STARMEDIA NETWORK, INC.
and
[NAME OF RIGHTS AGENT]
(Rights Agent)
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF MAY __, 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Section 1. Certain Definitions..............................................1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent......................................5
Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates.....................................5
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates......................................7
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration................................8
Section 6. Transfer, Split-Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights
Certificates.....................................................8
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of
Rights...........................................................9
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates.............11
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Preferred Stock.................11
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date.....................................12
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or Number of
Rights..........................................................13
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares......20
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power...................................................21
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.........................23
Section 15. Rights of Action................................................24
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders.....................................25
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder..............25
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.....................................26
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.......26
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent..........................................27
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent..........................................29
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates.............................29
Section 23. Redemption and Termination......................................30
i.
Section 24. Exchange........................................................31
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events........................................32
Section 26. Notices.........................................................33
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments......................................33
Section 28. Successors......................................................34
Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors............34
Section 30. Benefits of This Agreement......................................34
Section 31. Severability....................................................35
Section 32. Governing Law...................................................35
Section 33. Counterparts....................................................35
Section 34. Descriptive Headings............................................35
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A - Form of Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock
Exhibit B - Form of Rights Certificate
Exhibit C - Summary of Rights to Purchase Shares of Series A Preferred Stock
ii.
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), dated as of May __, 1999,
between StarMedia Network, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and
[NAME OF TRANSFER AGENT], a [New York] banking corporation (the "Rights Agent").
WHEREAS, effective May 4, 1999 (the "Rights Dividend Declaration
Date"), the Board of Directors authorized and declared a distribution of one
Right (each, a "Right") for each share of Common Stock (as hereinafter defined)
of the Company outstanding as of the Close of Business (as hereinafter defined)
upon the consummation of the Company's initial public offering (the "Record
Date"), each Right initially representing the right to purchase one
ten-thousandth of a share (a "Unit") of Preferred Stock (as hereinafter defined)
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 share of
Common Stock that shall become outstanding between the Record Date and the
earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration
Date (as such terms are hereinafter defined).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms have the meanings indicated:
"Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (as such term is
hereinafter defined) who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates
(as such terms are hereinafter defined) of such Person, shall be the Beneficial
Owner (as such term is hereinafter defined) of 15% or more of the shares of
Common Stock of the Company then outstanding but shall not include (1) the
Company, any Subsidiary (as such term is hereinafter defined) of the Company,
any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, or
any entity holding shares of Common Stock for or pursuant to the terms of any
such plan, (2) Chase Venture Capital Associates, L.P., ("Chase") or any
Affiliates or Associates of Chase (the "Chase Group") to the extent that the
members of the Chase Group shall beneficially own in the aggregate up to, but
not exceeding, 25% of the shares of Common Stock of the Company then
outstanding, (3) Fernando J. Espuelas or any Affiliates or Associates of Mr.
Espuelas (the "Espuelas Group") to the extent that the members of the Espuelas
Group shall beneficially own in the aggregate up to, but not exceeding, 20% of
the shares of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding, or (4) Jack C. Chen
or any Affiliates or Associates of Mr. Chen (the "Chen Group") to the extent
that the members of the Chen Group shall beneficially own in the aggregate up
to, but not exceeding, 20% of the shares of Common Stock of the Company then
outstanding. Notwithstanding the foregoing:
(i) no Person shall become an "Acquiring Person" as the result
of an acquisition of shares of Common Stock by the Company which, by
reducing the number of shares outstanding, increases the proportionate
number of shares beneficially owned by such Person to 15% or more of the
shares of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding; (or, in the case
of (A) the Chase Group, more than 25% of the shares of Common Stock of the
Company then outstanding, or (B) either the Espuelas Group or the
1
Chen Group, more than 20% of the shares of Common Stock of the Company
then outstanding); provided, however, that if a Person shall become the
Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock of the
Company then outstanding (or, in the case of (C) the Chase Group, more
than 25% of the shares of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding, or
(D) either the Espuelas Group or the Chen Group, more than 20% of the
shares of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding) by reason of share
purchases by the Company and shall, after such share purchases by the
Company, become the Beneficial Owner of any additional shares of Common
Stock of the Company (or, in the case of the members of any of the Chase
Group, the Espuelas Group or Chen Group, become the Beneficial Owner of
any additional shares of Common Stock of the Company), then such Person
shall be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person" hereunder; and
(ii) if the Board of Directors of the Company determines in
good faith that a Person who would otherwise be an "Acquiring Person" as
defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a), has
become such inadvertently, and such Person divests as promptly as
practicable a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock so that such
Person would no longer be an "Acquiring Person" (as defined pursuant to
the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a)), then such Person shall
not be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person" for any purpose of this
Agreement.
"Adjustment Shares" has the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(ii).
"Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Exchange Act (as such term is hereinafter defined).
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, directly or indirectly, for purposes of
Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and Rule 13d- 3 thereunder (or any
comparable or successor law or regulation); or
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates, directly or indirectly, 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 (whether or not in
writing, other than customary agreements with and between underwriters and
selling group members with respect to a bona fide public offering of
securities), or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights,
rights (other than the Rights), warrants or options, or otherwise;
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 further, however, that a Person
shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially own,"
any security under this subparagraph (ii) as a result of an agreement,
arrangement or understanding to vote such security if such
2
agreement, arrangement or understanding: (x) arises solely from a
revocable proxy given in response to a public proxy or consent
solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable
provisions of the Exchange Act and the Exchange Act Regulations, and (y)
is not reportable by such Person 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 (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) with which such
Person (or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates) has any
agreement, arrangement or understanding, (whether or not in writing, other
than customary agreements with and between underwriters and selling group
members with respect to a bona fide public offering of securities), for
the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except to the extent
contemplated by the proviso to (B) of subparagraph (ii) above) or
disposing of any securities of the Company; provided, however, that in no
case shall an officer or director of the Company be deemed (A) the
Beneficial Owner of any securities beneficially owned by another officer
or director of the Company solely by reason of actions undertaken by such
persons in their capacity as officers or directors of the Company or (B)
the Beneficial Owner of securities held of record by the trustee of any
employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company for
the benefit of any employee of the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company, other than the officer or director, by reason of any influence
that such officer or director may have over the voting of the securities
held in the plan;
Notwithstanding anything in this definition of "Beneficial Owner" and
"beneficially own" to the contrary, the phrase "then outstanding," when used
with reference to a Person who is the Beneficial Owner 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.
"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 in
which the principal office of the Rights Agent is located are authorized or
obligated by law or executive order to close.
"Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M., New York
time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business Day
it shall mean 5:00 P.M., California time, on the next succeeding Business Day.
"Common Stock" when used with reference to the Company shall mean
the shares of common stock, par value $.001, of the Company. "Common Stock" when
used with reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean the capital
stock (or other 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.
"Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this
Agreement.
"current per share market price" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(d)(i) hereof.
3
"Current Value" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(iii) hereof.
"Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a)
hereof.
"equivalent preferred shares" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(b) hereof.
"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
"Exchange Act Regulations" shall mean the General Rules and
Regulations under the Exchange Act.
"Exchange Ratio" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 24
hereof.
"Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a)
hereof.
"Final Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
7(a) hereof.
"NASDAQ" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(d) hereof.
"Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation or other
entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.
"Preferred Stock" shall mean shares of Series A Preferred Stock, par
value $.001, of the Company having the rights and preferences set forth in the
Form of Certificate of Designation attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A.
"preferred stock equivalents" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
"Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b)
hereof.
"Record Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to
this Agreement.
"Redemption Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a)
hereof.
"Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 23(a)
hereof.
"Right" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this
Agreement.
"Rights Agent" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to
this Agreement.
"Rights Certificate" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3(a) hereof.
"Rights Dividend Declaration Date" shall have the meaning set forth
in the recitals to this Agreement.
"Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean any event described in Section
11(a)(ii)(A), (B) or (C) hereof.
4
"Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
"Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described in clause (x), (y)
or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof.
"Section 24(a) Exchange Ratio" has the meaning set forth in Section
24(a) hereof.
"Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Shares Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include, without
limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) by the
Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such.
"Spread" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii)
hereof.
"Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any corporation or other
entity of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities
or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.
"Summary of Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(b)
hereof.
"Trading Day" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(d)(i)
hereof.
"Triggering Event" shall mean any Section 11(a)(ii) Event or any
Section 13 Event.
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints
the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company in accordance with the terms
and conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The
Company may from time to time appoint such co-Rights Agents as it may deem
necessary or desirable.
Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates.
(a) Until the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the Shares
Acquisition Date and (ii) the Close of Business on the tenth Business Day (or
such later date as may be determined by action of the Company's Board of
Directors prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person and of
which the Company will give the Rights Agent prompt written notice) after the
date that a tender or exchange offer 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 shares of Common Stock for or
pursuant to the terms of any such plan) is first published or sent or given
within the meaning of Rule 14d-4(a) of the Exchange Act Regulations or any
successor rule 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 shares of Common Stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) to
commence, a tender or exchange offer, if upon consummation thereof such Person
would be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more
5
of the shares of Company Common Stock then outstanding (the earlier of (i) and
(ii) above being the "Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will be evidenced
(subject to the provisions of Section 3(b) hereof) by the certificates for
shares of Common Stock registered in the names of the holders thereof (which
certificates shall also be deemed to be Rights Certificates) and not by separate
Rights Certificates, and (y) the right to receive Rights Certificates will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of shares of Common Stock. As
soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Company will notify the
Rights Agent thereof and 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, send) by first-class, insured, postage-prepaid mail,
to each record holder of shares of Common Stock as of the Close of Business on
the Distribution Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of the
Company, a Rights Certificate, in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (a
"Rights Certificate"), evidencing one Right for each share of Common Stock so
held. As of the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such
Rights Certificates.
(b) On the Record Date, or as soon as practicable thereafter, the
Company will send a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Stock, in
substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto (the "Summary of Rights"), by
first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of shares of Common
Stock as of the Close of Business on the Record Date, at the address of such
holder shown on the records of the Company. With respect to certificates for
shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution
Date, the Rights will be evidenced by such certificates registered in the names
of the holders thereof together with a copy of the Summary of Rights attached
thereto. Until the Distribution Date (or the Expiration Date), the surrender for
transfer of any certificate for shares of Common Stock outstanding on the Record
Date, with or without a copy of the Summary of Rights attached thereto, shall
also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the shares of Common
Stock represented thereby.
(c) Certificates for shares of Common Stock which become outstanding
(including, without limitation, reacquired shares of Common Stock referred to in
the last sentence of this paragraph (c)) after the Record Date but prior to the
earlier of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date shall have impressed
on, printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them the following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
certain rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement between StarMedia
Network, Inc. and [NAME OF RIGHTS AGENT], dated as of May, __, 1999,
(the "Rights Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby incorporated
herein by reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal
executive offices of StarMedia Network, Inc. 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. StarMedia Network, Inc. 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
6
becomes an Acquiring Person (as defined in the Rights Agreement),
whether currently held by or on behalf of such person or by any
subsequent holder, may become null and void.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
earlier of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date, the Rights associated
with the shares of Common Stock 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
shares of Common Stock represented thereby. In the event that the Company
purchases or acquires any shares of Common Stock after the Record Date but prior
to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such shares of Common Stock
shall be deemed cancelled and retired so that the Company shall not be entitled
to exercise any Rights associated with the shares of Common Stock which are no
longer outstanding.
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates.
(a) The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase
Units of Preferred Stock and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof)
shall be substantially the same as Exhibit B hereto and may have such marks of
identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements
printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent
with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any
applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any
rule or regulation of any stock exchange or transaction reporting system on
which the Rights may from time to time be listed, or to conform to usage.
Subject to the provisions of Section 11 and Section 22 hereof, the Rights
Certificates shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase the number of Units
of Preferred Stock as shall be set forth therein at the price per Unit of
Preferred Stock set forth therein, but the number of such Units of Preferred
Stock and the Purchase Price shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.
(b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant hereto that represents
Rights beneficially owned by: (i) an Acquiring Person or any Associate or
Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or
of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring
Person becomes such or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with
the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either
(A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to
holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom
such Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding
regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board of Directors
of the Company has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding
which has as a primary purpose or effect avoidance of Section 7(e) hereof shall
contain (to the extent feasible) the following legend:
The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate are or were
beneficially owned by a Person who was or became an Acquiring Person
or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms
are defined in the Rights Agreement between StarMedia Network, Inc.
and [NAME OF TRANSFER AGENT], as Rights
7
Agent, dated as of May __, 1999 (the "Rights Agreement").
Accordingly, this Rights Certificate and the Rights represented
hereby may become null and void in the circumstances specified in
Section 7(e) of the Rights Agreement.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.
(a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the
Company by its Chairman of the Board, its President, any of its Vice Presidents,
or its Treasurer or Chief Financial Officer, either manually or by facsimile
signature, shall have affixed thereto the Company's seal or a facsimile thereof,
and shall be attested by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company,
either manually or by facsimile signature. The Rights Certificates shall be
manually countersigned by the Rights Agent and shall not be valid for any
purpose unless countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who shall have
signed any of the Rights Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the
Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by
the Company, such Rights Certificates, nevertheless, may be countersigned by the
Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the Company with the same force and
effect as though the person who signed such Rights Certificates had not ceased
to be such officer of the Company; and any Rights Certificate may be signed on
behalf of the Company by any person who, at the actual date of the execution of
such Rights Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such
Rights Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Agreement any
such person was not such an officer.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or
cause to be kept, at its office designated for such purpose, books for
registration and transfer of the Rights Certificates issued hereunder. Such
books shall show the names and addresses of the respective holders of the Rights
Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Rights
Certificates and the date of each of the Rights Certificates.
Section 6. Transfer, Split-Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 4(b), 7(e) and 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 Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate or
Rights Certificates may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for
another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, entitling the registered
holder to purchase a like number of Units of Preferred Stock (or, following a
Triggering Event, other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as
the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered then entitled such
holder to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up,
combine or exchange any Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates shall make
such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the
Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined
or exchanged at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose.
Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any action
whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered Rights
Certificate until the registered holder shall have completed and signed the
certificate contained in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such
Rights Certificate and shall have provided such additional evidence of the
identity of the
8
Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates
thereof as the Company shall reasonably request. Thereupon the Rights Agent
shall, subject to Sections 4(b), 7(e) and 14 hereof, countersign and deliver to
the person entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, as the
case may be, as so requested. The Company may require payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in
connection with any transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Rights
Certificates.
(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
a Rights Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity
or security reasonably satisfactory to them, 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 Rights Certificate if mutilated, the Company will make and deliver a new
Rights Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for delivery to the
registered holder in lieu of the Rights Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed
or mutilated.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of
Rights.
(a) Except as provided in Sections 23(c) and 7(e), the registered
holder of any Rights Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby
(except as otherwise provided herein) in whole or in part at any time after the
Distribution Date upon surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of
election to purchase and certification on the reverse side thereof duly
executed, to the Rights Agent at the office of the Rights Agent designated for
such purpose, together with payment of the Purchase Price for each Unit of
Preferred Stock as to which the Rights are exercised, at or prior to the
earliest of (i) the Close of Business on the tenth anniversary hereof (the
"Final Expiration Date"), (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed as
provided in Section 23 hereof (the "Redemption Date"), or (iii) the time at
which such Rights are exchanged as provided in Section 24 hereof (the earlier of
(i), (ii) and (iii) being the "Expiration Date").
(b) The Purchase Price for each Unit of Preferred Stock pursuant to
the exercise of a Right shall initially be the amount equal to the product of
four times the average daily closing price of the Common Stock for the first
five days of trading subsequent to the consummation of the initial public
offering of the Common Stock, and shall be subject to adjustment from time to
time as provided in Sections 11 and 13 hereof and shall be payable in lawful
money of the United States of America in accordance with paragraph (c) below.
(c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing exercisable
Rights, with the form of election to purchase duly executed, accompanied by
payment of the Purchase Price for the number of Units of Preferred Stock (or
other securities or property, as the case may be) to be purchased and an amount
equal to any applicable transfer tax required to be paid by the holder of such
Rights Certificate in accordance with Section 9 hereof in cash, or by certified
check or cashier's check payable to the order of the Company, the Rights Agent
shall, subject to Section 20(k) hereof, thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition
from any transfer agent of the Preferred Stock (or make available, if the Rights
Agent is the transfer agent for the Preferred Stock) a certificate or
certificates for the number of Units of Preferred Stock to be purchased and the
Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with all such
requests or (B)
9
if the Company shall have elected to deposit the total number of Units of
Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights hereunder with a depositary
agent, requisition from the depositary agent of a depositary receipt or
depositary receipts representing such number of Units of Preferred Stock as are
to be purchased (in which case certificates for the Units of Preferred Stock
represented by such receipt or receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent
with the depositary agent) and the Company hereby directs the 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) 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 Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names
as may be designated by such holder and (iv) when appropriate, after receipt
thereof, deliver such cash to or upon the order of the registered holder of such
Rights Certificate. The payment of the Purchase Price (as such amount may be
reduced (including to zero) pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof) may be made
in cash or by certified bank check or bank draft payable to the order of the
Company. In the event that the Company is obligated to issue other securities of
the Company, pay cash and/or distribute other property pursuant to Section 11(a)
hereof, the Company will make all arrangements necessary so that such other
securities, cash and/or other property are available for distribution by the
Rights Agent, if and when appropriate.
(d) In case the registered holder of any Rights Certificate shall
exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Rights Certificate
evidencing a number of Rights equivalent to the number of Rights remaining
unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent to the registered holder of such
Rights Certificate or to such registered holder's duly authorized assigns,
subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from
and after the first occurrence of a Triggering Event, any Rights beneficially
owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring
Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or
Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such,
(iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or
Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring
Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer
(whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of
equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom the
Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding
regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which a majority of the Board
of Directors of the Company has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or
understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this
Section 7(e) or (iv) any subsequent transferee shall become null and void
without any further action and no holder of such Rights shall have any rights
whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether under any provision of this
Agreement or otherwise. The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to ensure
that the provisions of this Section 7(e) and Section 4(b) hereof are complied
with, but shall have no liability to any holder of Rights Certificates or to any
other Person as a result of its failure to make any determinations with respect
to an Acquiring Person or any of such Acquiring Person's Affiliates, Associates
or transferees hereunder.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to undertake any
action with respect to a
10
registered holder upon the occurrence of any purported exercise as set forth in
this Section 7 unless such registered holder shall have (i) completed and signed
the certificate contained in the form of election to purchase set forth on the
reverse side of the Rights Certificate surrendered for such exercise and (ii)
provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or
former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company
shall reasonably request.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates. All
Rights Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or to any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in cancelled form,
or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be cancelled by it, and no Rights
Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by
any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights
Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and
retire, any other Rights Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company
otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all
cancelled Rights Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request
of the Company, destroy such cancelled Rights Certificates, and in such case
shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Preferred Stock.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will use its best
efforts to cause to be reserved and kept available out of and to the extent of
its authorized and unissued Units of Preferred Stock not reserved for another
purpose that will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all
outstanding Rights. Upon the occurrence of any events resulting in an increase
in the aggregate number of shares of Preferred Stock (or other equity securities
of the Company) issuable upon exercise of all outstanding Rights above the
number then reserved, the Company shall make appropriate increases in the number
of shares so reserved.
(b) If the Units of Preferred Stock to be issued and delivered upon
the exercise of the Rights are at any time listed on a national securities
exchange or included for quotation on any transaction reporting system, the
Company shall during the period from the Distribution Date to the Expiration
Date use its best efforts to cause all shares reserved for such issuance to be
listed on such exchange or included for quotation on any such transaction
reporting system upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
(c) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as soon as
practicable following the earliest date after the first occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event in which the consideration to be delivered by the Company upon
exercise of the Rights has been determined in accordance with Section 11(a)(iii)
hereof, or as soon as is required by law following the Distribution Date, as the
case may be, a registration statement under the Securities Act, with respect to
the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form,
(ii) cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as
practicable after such filing and (iii) cause such registration statement to
remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the
Securities Act) until the earlier of (A) the date as of which the Rights are no
longer exercisable for such securities and (B) the Expiration Date. The Company
will also take such action as may be appropriate under, or to ensure compliance
with, the
11
securities or "blue sky" laws of the various states in connection with the
exercisability of the Rights. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to
the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction, unless
the requisite qualification in such jurisdiction shall have been obtained, or an
exemption therefrom shall be available and until a registration statement has
been declared effective.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such
action as may be necessary to ensure that all Units of Preferred Stock (and,
following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, any other securities that may be
delivered upon exercise of Rights) shall, at the time of delivery of the
certificates for such Units of Preferred Stock (subject to payment of the
Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and
non-assessable.
(e) 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 Rights Certificates
or of any Units of Preferred Stock 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 Rights Certificates to a person other
than, or the issuance or delivery of certificates or depositary receipts for
Units of Preferred Stock in a name other than that of, the registered holder of
the Rights Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or
to deliver any certificates or depositary receipts for Units of Preferred Stock
upon the exercise of any Rights until any such tax shall have been paid (any
such tax being payable by the holder of such Rights Certificate at the time of
surrender) or until it has been established to the Company's reasonable
satisfaction that no such tax is due.
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date. Each person in whose name
any certificate for Units of Preferred Stock (or, following the occurrence of a
Triggering Event, other securities) is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall
for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the Units of
Preferred Stock (or, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, other
securities) represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the
date upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly
surrendered and payment of 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 Stock (or, following the occurrence
of a Triggering Event, other securities) 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 Stock transfer books of the Company are open; provided
further, however, that if delivery of Units of Preferred Stock is delayed
pursuant to Section 9(c), such Persons shall be deemed to have become the record
holders of such Units of Preferred Stock only when such Units first become
deliverable. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder
of a Rights Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a stockholder of
the Company with respect to securities 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. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the
holder of a Rights Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a holder
of a Unit of Preferred Stock for which the Rights shall be exercisable,
including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends or other
12
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 and kinds of securities 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) (i) In the event the Company shall at any time after
the date of this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred Stock
payable in shares of Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding shares
of Preferred Stock, (C) combine the outstanding Preferred Stock into a
smaller number of shares Preferred Stock or (D) issue any shares of its
capital stock in a reclassification of the Preferred Stock (including any
such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in
which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), except as
otherwise provided in this Section 11(a), the Purchase Price in effect at
the time of the record date for such dividend or of the effective date of
such subdivision, 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 Rights exercised after such time shall
be entitled to receive the aggregate number and kind of shares of capital
stock which, if such Rights had been exercised immediately prior to such
date and at a time when the Preferred Stock transfer books of the Company
were open, such holder would have owned upon such exercise and been
entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination
or reclassification; provided, however, that in no event shall the
consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the
aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company issuable
upon exercise of one Right. If an event occurs which would require an
adjustment under both this Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii), the
adjustment provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be in addition to,
and shall be made prior, to any adjustment required pursuant to Section
11(a)(ii).
(ii) Subject to Section 24 of this Agreement, in the event
that (A) any Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of any
Acquiring Person, at any time after the date of this Agreement, directly
or indirectly, shall (1) merge into the Company or otherwise combine with
the Company and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving
corporation of such merger or combination and shares of Company Common
Stock shall remain outstanding and unchanged, (2) in one transaction or a
series of transactions, transfer any assets to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries in exchange (in whole or in part) for shares of Company
Common Stock, for other equity securities of the Company or any such
Subsidiary, or for securities exercisable for or convertible into shares
of equity securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (whether
shares of Company Common Stock or otherwise) or otherwise obtain from the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, with or without consideration, any
additional shares of such equity securities or securities exercisable for
or convertible into such equity securities other than pursuant to a pro
rata distribution to all holders of shares of Company Common Stock, (3)
sell, purchase, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or otherwise
acquire or dispose of, in one transaction or a series of transactions, to,
from or with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any employee
benefit plan maintained by the Company or any
13
of its Subsidiaries or any trustee or fiduciary with respect to such plan
acting in such capacity, assets (including securities) on terms and
conditions less favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary or plan than
those that could have been obtained in arm's-length negotiations with an
unaffiliated third party, other than pursuant to a transaction set forth
in Section 13(a) hereof, (4) sell, purchase, lease, exchange, mortgage,
pledge, transfer or otherwise acquire or dispose of, in one transaction or
a series of transactions, to, from or with the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or any employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries or any trustee or fiduciary with respect to such plan
acting in such capacity (other than transactions, if any, consistent with
those engaged in, as of the date hereof, by the Company and such Acquiring
Person or such Associate or Affiliate), assets (including securities or
intangible assets) having an aggregate fair market value of more than
$5,000,000, other than pursuant to a transaction set forth in Section
13(a) hereof, (5) receive, or any designee, agent or representative of
such Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate of such Acquiring
Person shall receive, any compensation from the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries other than compensation for full-time employment as a regular
employee at rates in accordance with the Company's (or its Subsidiaries')
past practices, or (6) receive the benefit, directly or indirectly (except
proportionately as a holder of shares of Company Common Stock or as
required by law or governmental regulation), of any loans, advances,
guarantees, pledges or other financial assistance or any tax credits or
other tax advantages provided by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
any employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or any trustee or fiduciary with respect to such plan acting
in such capacity; or (B) any Person shall become an Acquiring Person,
unless the event causing the Person to become an Acquiring Person is a
transaction set forth in Section 13(a); or (C) during such time as there
is an Acquiring Person, there shall be any reclassification of securities
(including any reverse stock split), or recapitalization of the Company,
or any merger or consolidation of the Company with any of its Subsidiaries
or any other transaction or series of transactions involving the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries, other than a transaction or transactions to
which the provisions of Section 13(a) apply (whether or not with or into
or otherwise involving an Acquiring Person), which has the effect,
directly or indirectly, of increasing by more than 1% the proportionate
share of the outstanding shares of any class of equity securities of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries that is directly or indirectly
beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person or any Person or any Associate
or Affiliate of any Acquiring Person;
then promptly following the occurrence of an event described in Section
11(a)(ii)(A), (B) or (C) (a "Section 11(a)(ii) Event"), proper provision shall
be made so that each holder of a Right, except as provided in Section 7(e)
hereof, shall thereafter have the right to receive for each Right, upon exercise
thereof in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and payment of the
then-current Purchase Price, in lieu of the number of Units of Preferred Stock
for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event, such number of Units of Preferred Stock as shall equal
the result obtained by multiplying the then-current Purchase Price by the then
number of Units of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable (or would
have been exercisable if the Distribution Date had occurred) immediately prior
to the first occurrence of a Triggering Event, and dividing that product by 50%
of the current per share market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)
hereof) for shares of
14
Common Stock on the date of occurrence of the Triggering Event (such number of
Units of Preferred Stock being hereinafter referred to as the "Adjustment
Shares").
(iii) In the event that the number of Units of Preferred Stock
which are authorized by the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation but not outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes
other than upon exercise of the Rights are not sufficient to permit the
exercise in full of the Rights, or if any necessary regulatory approval
for such issuance has not been obtained by the Company, the Company shall,
in lieu of issuing Units of Preferred Stock in accordance with Section
11(a)(ii) hereof: (A) determine the excess of (1) the value of the Units
of Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of a Right (the "Current
Value") over (2) the Purchase Price (such excess being referred to as the
"Spread") and (B) with respect to each Right, make adequate provision to
substitute for such Units of Preferred Stock, upon exercise of the Rights,
(1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (3) other equity
securities of the Company (including, without limitation, Common Stock or
shares or units of shares of any series of preferred stock which the Board
of Directors of the Company has deemed to have the same value as the Units
of Preferred Stock (such shares or units of preferred stock are herein
called "preferred stock equivalents")), except to the extent that the
Company has not obtained any necessary regulatory approval for such
issuance, (4) debt securities of the Company, except to the extent that
the Company has not obtained any necessary regulatory approval for such
issuance, (5) other assets or (6) any combination of the foregoing, having
an aggregate value equal to the Current Value, where such aggregate value
has been determined by the Board of Directors of the Company based upon
the advice of a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by
the Board of Directors of the Company; provided, however, if the Company
shall not have made adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause
(B) above within thirty (30) days following the later of (x) occurrence of
a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, and (y) the date on which the Company's right
of redemption pursuant to Section 23(a) expires (the later of (x) and (y)
being referred to herein as the "Section 11(a)(iii) Trigger Date"), then
the Company shall be obligated to deliver, upon the surrender for exercise
of a Right and without requiring payment of the Purchase Price, Units of
Preferred Stock (to the extent available), [except to the extent that the
Company has not obtained any necessary regulatory approval for such
issuance,] and then, if necessary, cash, which Units and/or cash have an
aggregate value equal to the Spread.
(b) In the event that the Company shall fix a record date for the
issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Units of Preferred
Stock entitling them (for a period expiring within 45 calendar days after such
record date) to subscribe for or purchase Units of Preferred Stock (or shares
having the same rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred Stock
("equivalent preferred stock")) or securities convertible into Units of
Preferred Stock or equivalent preferred stock at a price per Unit of Preferred
Stock or equivalent preferred share (or having a conversion price per share, if
a security convertible into Units of Preferred Stock or equivalent preferred
stock) less than the then current per share market price of a Unit of Preferred
Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) on such record date, the
Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by
multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date
by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of Units of
15
Preferred Stock outstanding on such record date plus the number of Units of
Preferred Stock which the aggregate offering price of the total number of Units
of Preferred Stock and/or equivalent preferred stock 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 Units of Preferred Stock outstanding on such record
date plus the number of additional Units of Preferred Stock and/or equivalent
preferred stock to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the
convertible securities so to be offered are initially convertible). In case such
subscription price may be paid in a consideration part or all of which shall be
in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration shall be as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and
shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights. Units of
Preferred Stock owned by or held for the account of the Company shall not be
deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such 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 a distribution
to all holders of Units of Preferred Stock (including any such distribution made
in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the
continuing or surviving corporation) of evidences of indebtedness, cash (other
than a regular quarterly cash dividend), assets (other than a dividend payable
in Units of Preferred Stock but including any dividend payable in equity
securities other than Preferred Stock) or subscription rights or warrants
(excluding those referred to in Section 11(d) 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 (as
determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) of the Preferred Stock on such record
date, less the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement
filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the
holder of rights) of the cash, assets or evidences of indebtedness to be
distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants distributable in respect
of a share of Preferred Stock and the denominator of which shall be such current
per share market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) of a share of
Preferred Stock. 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
thirty (30) consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined)
immediately prior to such date; provided, however, that in the event that
the "current per share market price" of the Security is determined during
a period following the announcement by the issuer of such Security of (A)
a dividend or distribution on such Security payable in shares of such
Security or securities convertible into such shares, or (B) any
subdivision, combination or reclassification of such Security and prior to
the expiration of thirty (30) Trading Days after the ex-dividend date for
such dividend or
16
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 Nasdaq National Market System
("NASDAQ") or, if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on the
NASDAQ, 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. If on any such date no market maker is making a
market in the Security, the "current per share market price" of such
Security on such date as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company as provided for above shall be used. 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 Stock shall be
determined in accordance with the method set forth in Section 11(d)(i). If
the "current per share market price" of the Preferred Stock cannot be
determined in the manner provided above or if the Preferred Stock is not
publicly held or listed or traded in a manner described in clause (i) of
this Section 11(d), the "current per share market price" of the Preferred
Stock shall be conclusively deemed to be an amount equal to $10,000 (as
such amount may be appropriately adjusted for such events as stock splits,
stock dividends and recapitalizations with respect to shares of Company
Common Stock occurring after the date of this Agreement) multiplied by the
current market price per share of Company Common Stock. If shares of
neither the Company Common Stock nor Preferred Stock is publicly held or
so listed or traded, "current per share market price" of the Preferred
Stock shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by
the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be
described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding
on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights. For all purposes of
this Agreement, the "current market price" of a Unit of Preferred Stock
shall be equal to the "current market price" of one share of Preferred
Stock divided by 10,000.
(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
17
under this Section 11 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one
ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock or one one-hundredth of any other
share or security as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this
Section 11(e), any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later
than the earlier of (i) three years from the date of the transaction which
requires such adjustment or (ii) the Expiration Date.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section
11(a)(ii) hereof, the holder of any Rights thereafter exercised shall become
entitled to receive any shares of capital stock of the Company other than Units
of Preferred Stock, thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable
upon exercise of any Rights and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to
adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as
practicable to the provisions with respect to the Preferred Stock contained in
Section 11(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), (l) and (m), and the
provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 with respect to the Preferred Stock
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 Units of Preferred Stock
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 Units of Preferred
Stock (calculated to the nearest one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred
Stock) obtained by dividing (i) the product obtained by multiplying (x) the
number of Units of Preferred Stock 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 by, (ii) 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 Units of Preferred Stock 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 Units of Preferred Stock
for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment. Each
Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall
become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest one ten-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 Rights Certificates have
been issued, shall be at least ten days later than the date of the public
announcement. If Rights Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment of
the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the Company shall, as
promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of Rights
Certificates on such record date Rights Certificates evidencing, subject to
Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such
18
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 Rights Certificates held by such holders
prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the
Company, new Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders
shall be entitled after such adjustment. Rights Certificates to be so
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
Rights Certificates on the record date specified in the public announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price
or the number of Units of Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of the
Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue
to express the Purchase Price per Unit and the number of Units of Preferred
Stock which were expressed in the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing
the Purchase Price below the then par value of the number of Units of Preferred
Stock 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 number of
Units of Preferred Stock 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 Rights exercised after such record date
of that number of Units of Preferred Stock and other capital stock or securities
of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the Units of
Preferred Stock 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 (fractional or otherwise) 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 (i) consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred Stock, (ii)
issuance wholly for cash of any Unit of Preferred Stock at less than the current
market price, (iii) issuance wholly for cash of Preferred Stock or securities
which by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for Preferred Stock,
(iv) dividends on Preferred Stock payable in Preferred Stock or (v) issuance of
rights, options or warrants referred to in this Section 11, hereafter made by
the Company to holders of Units of its Preferred Stock shall not be taxable to
such stockholders.
(n) The Company shall not, at any time after the Distribution Date,
(i) consolidate with any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in
a transaction which complies with Section 11(o)), (ii) merge with or into any
other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which
complies with Section 11(o)), or (iii) sell or
19
transfer (or permit any Subsidiary to sell or transfer), in one transaction, or
a series of transactions, assets or earning power aggregating more than 50% of
the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a
whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or any of its
Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which complies with Section
11(o)), if (x) at the time of or immediately after such consolidation, merger or
sale there are any rights, warrants or other instruments or securities
outstanding or agreements in effect which would substantially diminish or
otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights or (y)
prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after such consolidation, merger or
sale, the Person which constitutes, or would constitute the "Principal Party"
for purposes of Section 13(a) shall have distributed or otherwise transferred to
its stockholders or other persons holding an equity interest in such Person
Rights previously owned by such Person or any of its Affiliates and Associates;
provided, however, this Section 11(n) shall not affect the ability of any
Subsidiary of the Company to consolidate with, merge with or into, or sell or
transfer assets or earning power to, any other Subsidiary of the Company.
(o) After the Distribution Date, the Company shall not, except as
permitted by Section 23 or Section 26, take (or permit any Subsidiary to take)
any action if at the time such action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that
such action will diminish substantially or otherwise eliminate the benefits
intended to be afforded by the Rights.
(p) In the event that, at any time after the date of this Agreement
and prior to the Distribution Date, the Company shall (i) declare or pay any
dividend on outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock
or (ii) effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common Stock
(by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of dividends in shares of
Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in
any such case the number of Units of Preferred Stock purchasable after such
event upon proper exercise of each Right shall be determined by multiplying the
number of Units of Preferred Stock so purchasable immediately prior to such
event by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately before such event and the denominator of which is
the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event.
The adjustments provided for in this Section 11(p) shall be made successively
whenever such a dividend is declared or paid or such a subdivision, combination
or consolidation is effected.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of
Shares. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 and 13 hereof,
the Company shall 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 shares of
Common Stock or Units of Preferred Stock a copy of such certificate and (c) mail
a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Rights Certificate in accordance
with Section 25 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the failure by
the Company to make such certification or give such notice shall not affect the
validity of or the force or effect of the requirement for such adjustment. The
Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on
any adjustment contained therein and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of
such adjustment unless and until it shall have received such certificate.
20
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power.
(a) Except as provided in Section 13(b) hereof, in the event that,
following a Shares Acquisition Date, directly or indirectly, (x) the Company
shall consolidate with, or merge with and into, any other Person (other than a
Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o)),
and the Company shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation of such
consolidation or merger, (y) any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company
in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o)) shall consolidate with the
Company, or merge with and into the Company and the Company shall be the
continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger and, in
connection with such consolidation or merger, all or part of the shares of
Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of
any other Person or cash or any other property, or (z) the Company shall sell or
otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise
transfer) to any Person or Persons (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a
transaction which complies with Section 11(o)), in one or more transactions,
directly or indirectly, assets or earning power aggregating 50% or more of the
assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole),
(any such event being a "Section 13 Event"), then, and in each such case, proper
provision shall be made so that: (i) each holder of a Right, except as provided
in Section 7(e), shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise
thereof at the then current Purchase Price, such number of validly authorized
and issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock of the
Principal Party (as such term is hereinafter defined), which shares shall not be
subject to any liens, encumbrances, rights of first refusal, transfer
restrictions or other adverse claims, as shall be equal to the result obtained
by (1) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the number of Units of
Preferred Stock for which a Right is exercisable immediately prior to the first
occurrence of a Section 13 Event (or, if a Section 11(a)(ii) Event has occurred
prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, multiplying the number of
such Units of Preferred Stock for which a Right would be exercisable hereunder
but for the occurrence of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event by the Purchase Price
which would be in effect hereunder but for such first occurrence) and (2)
dividing that product (which, following the direct occurrence of a Section 13
Event, shall be the "Purchase Price" for all purposes of this Agreement) by 50%
of the current per share market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) of
the shares of Common Stock of such Principal Party on the date of consummation
of such Section 13 Event; (ii) such Principal Party shall thereafter be liable
for, and shall assume, by virtue of such Section 13 Event, all the obligations
and duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) the term "Company"
shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, thereafter be deemed to refer to such
Principal Party, it being specifically intended that the provisions of Section
11 shall apply only to such Principal Party following the first occurrence of a
Section 13 Event; (iv) such Principal Party shall take such steps (including,
but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of shares of its
Common Stock) in connection with the consummation of any such transaction as may
be necessary to ensure that the provisions of this Agreement shall thereafter be
applicable to its shares of Common Stock thereafter deliverable upon the
exercise of the Rights; and (v) the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) shall be of
no further effect following the first occurrence of any Section 13 Event.
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean:
21
(i) in the case of any transaction described in clause (x) or
(y) of the first sentence of Section 13(a), (A) the Person that is the
issuer of any securities into which shares of Company Common Stock are
converted in such merger or consolidation, or, if there is more than one
such issuer, the issuer of shares of Common Stock that has the highest
aggregate current market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) and
(B) if no securities are so issued, the Person that is the other party to
such merger or consolidation, or, if there is more than one such Person,
the Person the Common Stock of which has the highest aggregate current
market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)); and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause (z) of
the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the party
receiving the largest portion of the assets or earning power transferred
pursuant to such transaction or transactions, or, if each Person that is a
party to such transaction or transactions receives the same portion of the
assets or earning power transferred pursuant to such transaction or
transactions or if the Person receiving the largest portion of the assets
or earning power cannot be determined, whichever Person the Common Stock
of which has the highest aggregate current market price (determined
pursuant to Section 11(d)); provided, however, that in any such case, (1)
if the Common Stock of such Person is not at such time and has not been
continuously over the preceding twelve-month period registered under
Section 12 of the Exchange Act ("Registered Common Stock"), or such Person
is not a corporation, and such Person is a direct or indirect Subsidiary
of another Person that has Registered Common Stock outstanding, "Principal
Party" shall refer to such other Person; (2) if the Common Stock of such
Person is not Registered Common Stock or such Person is not a corporation,
and such Person is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person but
is not a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person which has
Registered Common Stock outstanding, "Principal Party" shall refer to the
ultimate parent entity of such first-mentioned Person; (3) if the Common
Stock of such Person is not Registered Common Stock or such Person is not
a corporation, and such Person is directly or indirectly controlled by
more than one Person, and one or more of such other Persons has Registered
Common Stock outstanding, "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of
such other Persons is the issuer of the Registered Common Stock having the
highest aggregate current per share market price (determined pursuant to
Section 11(d)); and (4) if the Common Stock of such Person is not
Registered Common Stock or such Person is not a corporation, and such
Person is directly or indirectly controlled by more than one Person, and
none of such other Persons has Registered Common Stock outstanding,
"Principal Party" shall refer to whichever ultimate parent entity is the
corporation having the greatest stockholders' equity or, if no such
ultimate parent entity is a corporation, shall refer to whichever ultimate
parent entity is the entity having the greatest net assets.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger,
sale or transfer unless the Principal Party shall have a sufficient number of
authorized shares of Common Stock which have not been issued or reserved for
issuance to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with this
Section 13, and unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party shall
have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement
providing for the terms set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 13
and further providing that the Principal Party will:
22
(i) (A) file on an appropriate form, as soon as practicable
following the execution of such agreement, a registration statement under
the Securities Act with respect to the shares of Common Stock that may be
acquired upon exercise of the Rights, (B) cause such registration
statement to remain effective (and to include a prospectus complying with
the requirements of the Securities Act) until the Expiration Date, and (C)
as soon as practicable following the execution of such agreement take such
action as may be required to ensure that any acquisition of such shares of
Common Stock upon the exercise of the Rights complies with any applicable
state securities or "blue sky" laws; and
(ii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial
statements for the Principal Party and each of its Affiliates which comply
in all respects with the requirements for registration on Form 10 under
the Exchange Act.
(d) In case the Principal Party which is to be a party to a
transaction referred to in this Section 13 has a provision in any of its
authorized securities or in its Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws or other
instrument governing its corporate affairs, which provision would have the
effect of (i) causing such Principal Party to issue, in connection with, or as a
consequence of, the consummation of a transaction referred to in this Section
13, shares of Common Stock of such Principal Party at less than the then current
market price per share (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) or securities
exercisable for, or convertible into, shares of Common Stock of such Principal
Party at less than such then current marker price (other than to holders of
Rights pursuant to this Section 13) or (ii) providing for any special payment,
tax or similar provisions in connection with the issuance of the shares of
Common Stock of such Principal Party pursuant to the provisions of this Section
13, then, in such event, the Company shall not consummate any such transaction
unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party shall have executed
and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing that the
provision in question of such Principal Party shall have been cancelled, waived
or amended, or that the authorized securities shall be redeemed, so that the
applicable provision will have no effect in connection with, or as a consequence
of, the consummation of the proposed transaction.
(e) The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to
successive mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers. In the event
that a Section 13 Event shall occur at any time after the occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the Rights which have not theretofore been exercised
shall thereafter become exercisable in the manner described in Section 13(a).
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights
or to distribute Rights Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu
of such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the
Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise
be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
value of 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
23
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 NASDAQ or, if the Rights are not listed or
admitted to trading on the NASDAQ, 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 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 shall be used.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one
ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock) upon exercise of the Rights or to
distribute certificates which evidence fractional Preferred Stock (other than
fractions which are integral multiples of one ten-thousandth of a share of
Preferred Stock). Fractions of Preferred Stock in integral multiples of one
ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock 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,
however, 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 Stock represented by such
depositary receipts. In lieu of fractional shares of Preferred Stock that are
not integral multiples of one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock, the
Company shall pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time
such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same
fraction of the current market value of one a share of Preferred Stock as
determined pursuant to Section 11(d).
(c) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right expressly
waives such holder's right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional
shares upon exercise of a Right (except as provided above).
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of
this Agreement, excepting the rights of action given to the Rights Agent under
Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of
certificates representing shares of Common Stock); and any registered holder of
any Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, a certificate
representing shares of Common Stock), without the consent of the Rights Agent or
of the holder of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution
Date, of a certificate representing shares of Common Stock), may, in such
holder's own behalf and for such holder's own benefit, enforce, and may
institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to
enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, such holder's right to exercise the
Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate in the manner provided in such
Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any
remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically
24
acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law
for any breach of this Agreement and will be entitled to specific performance of
the obligations hereunder, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened
violations of the obligations of any Person subject to this Agreement.
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders. Every holder of a Right, by
accepting the same, consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent
and with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable
only in connection with the transfer of shares of the Company's Common Stock;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at
the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, duly endorsed or
accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer;
(c) subject to Sections 6(a) and 7(f) hereof, the Company and the
Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name the Rights Certificate
(or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common Stock certificate) is
registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby
(notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the Rights
Certificates or the associated Common Stock 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; and
(d) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to any holder
of a Right or other Person as a result of its inability to perform any of its
obligations under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or permanent
injunction or other order, decree or ruling issued by a court of competent
jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or administrative agency or
commission, or any statute, rule, regulation or executive order promulgated or
enacted by any governmental authority, prohibiting or otherwise restraining
performance of such obligation; provided, however, the Company must use its best
efforts to have any such order, decree or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned
as soon as possible.
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No
holder, as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Units of Preferred
Stock or any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable
upon the exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything
contained herein or in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the
holder of any Rights Certificate, 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 Rights Certificate shall have been exercised in
accordance with the provisions hereof.
25
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent. The Company agrees to pay
to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it
hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable
expenses and counsel fees and other disbursements incurred in the administration
and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties
hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to
hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without
gross negligence, or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for any
action taken, suffered or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection with the
execution, acceptance and administration of this Agreement and the exercise and
performance hereunder of its duties, including the costs and expenses of
defending against and appealing any claim of liability in the premises. The
indemnity provided herein shall survive the termination of this Agreement and
the expiration of the Rights. The costs and expenses incurred in enforcing this
right of indemnification shall be paid by the Company.
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 Agreement and the
exercise and performance of its duties hereunder in reliance upon any Rights
Certificate or certificate for Units of Preferred Stock or shares of Common
Stock 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.
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 party, or any corporation succeeding to
the stock transfer or corporate trust business of the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this
Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the
part of any of the parties hereto, provided that such corporation 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 Agreement any of the Rights 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
Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights
Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may
countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the predecessor
Rights Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases
such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights
Certificates and in this Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be
changed and at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature
under its prior name and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in
case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been
26
countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either
in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Rights
Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and
in this Agreement.
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the
duties and obligations imposed by this 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 Rights Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) Before the Rights Agent acts or refrains from acting, it may
consult with legal counsel of its choice (who may be legal counsel for the
Company), and the advice or opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete
authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action taken,
suffered or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such advice or
opinion.
(b) Whenever in the administration, exercise and performance of its
duties under this Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or
desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior
to taking, suffering or omitting 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 Chairman of the Board, 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, suffered or omitted in good faith by
it under the provisions of this 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 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 Agreement or in the Rights
Certificates (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 liability or
responsibility in respect of the legality, validity or enforceability of this
Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the due execution hereof
by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the legality, validity or enforceability
or the execution of any Rights Certificate (except its countersignature thereof
and has actual knowledge of such change or adjustment); nor shall it be liable
or responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition
contained in this Agreement or in any Rights 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 Rights Certificates after receipt
of the certificate described in Section 12 hereof or
27
has actual knowledge of such change or adjustment); nor shall it by any act
hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the
authorization or reservation of any Units of Preferred Stock to be issued
pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights Certificate or as to whether any
Preferred Stock 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 Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the administration, exercise and performance of its
duties hereunder from any one of the Chairman of the Board, 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 responsible or liable for any
action taken, suffered or omitted 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 and/or after which such action shall be taken or such
omission shall be effective. The Rights Agent shall not be liable for any action
taken by, or omission of, the Rights Agent in accordance with a proposal
included in any such application on or after the date specified in such
application (which date shall not be less than five (5) Business Days after the
date any officer of the Company actually received such application, unless any
such officer shall have consented in writing to an earlier date) unless, prior
to taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of an omission),
the Rights Agent shall have received written instructions in response to such
application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.
(h) The Rights Agent and any 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 were not Rights Agent
under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting
in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or
powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or
through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent 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
the Rights Agent in good faith believes that
28
repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or
liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(k) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the
Rights Agent for exercise, transfer, split up, combination or exchange, the
certification on the form of assignment or form of election to purchase, as the
case may be, that the Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate are not owned
by an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or Associate thereof, has either not
been completed or in any manner indicates any other response thereto, the Rights
Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such requested exercise,
transfer, split up, combination or exchange, without first consulting with the
Company.
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this
Agreement upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and to
each transfer agent of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock (as to which the
Rights Agent has received prior written notice) by registered or certified mail,
and the Company shall mail notice thereof to the holders of the Rights
Certificates by first-class mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing, mailed to the
Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer
agent of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock (as to which the Rights Agent has
received prior written notice) by registered or certified mail, and to the
holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. 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 thirty (30) days after giving notice
of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or
incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a
Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit such holder's Rights
Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the registered holder of any
Rights Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed
by the Company or by such a court, shall be a corporation organized and doing
business under the laws of the United States or of any state of the United
States, in good standing, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust
or stock transfer powers, and 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. After appointment, the
successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and
responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without
further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer
to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and
execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for
the purpose. 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 Stock or Preferred Stock, and mail a
notice thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Rights 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 Rights Certificates. Notwithstanding any
of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the
Company may, at its option,
29
issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as may be approved
by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change in the Purchase
Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other securities or property
purchasable under the Rights Certificates made in accordance with the provisions
of this Agreement. In addition, in connection with the issuance or sale of
shares of Common Stock following the Distribution Date and prior to the
Expiration Date, the Company (a) shall, with respect to shares of Common Stock
so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under any
employee benefit plan or arrangement or upon the exercise, conversion or
exchange of securities of the Company currently outstanding or issued at any
time in the future by the Company and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed
necessary or appropriate by the Board of Directors of the Company issue Rights
Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection with
such issuance or sale; provided, however, that (i) no such Rights Certificate
shall be issued and this sentence shall be null and void ab initio if, and to
the extent that, such issuance or this sentence would create a significant risk
of or result in material adverse tax consequences to the Company or the Person
to whom such Rights Certificate would be issued or would create a significant
risk of or result in such options' or employee plans' or arrangements' failing
to qualify for otherwise available special tax treatment and (ii) no such Rights
Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate adjustment
shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.
Section 23. Redemption and Termination.
(a) The Company may, at its option, upon approval by the Board of
Directors, at any time on or prior to the close of business (or such later date
as may be determined by the Board of Directors) on the earlier of (i) the Shares
Acquisition Date, or (ii) the Final Expiration Date redeem all but not less than
all the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $0.001 per Right,
appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar
transaction occurring after the date hereof (such redemption price being
hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption Price"), and the Company may, at its
option, pay the Redemption Price either in cash, shares of Common Stock (based
on the current per share market price thereof (as determined pursuant to Section
11(d) hereof) at the time of redemption), or any other form of consideration
deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors. The redemption of the Rights by
the Board of Directors may be made effective at such time on such basis and with
such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish.
(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 ten (10) days after such action of the Board of Directors
ordering the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall give notice of such
redemption to the Rights Agent and 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 Stock. 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
30
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 shares of Common Stock
prior to the Distribution Date.
(c) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the
contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable pursuant to Section 7(a) at any
time when the Rights are redeemable hereunder.
Section 24. Exchange.
(a) The Company, at its option, upon approval by the Board of
Directors, at any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, may
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
7(e) hereof) for Units of Preferred Stock at an exchange ratio equal to, subject
to adjustment to reflect stock splits, stock dividends and similar transactions
occurring after the date hereof, that number obtained by dividing the Purchase
Price by the then current per share market price per Unit of Preferred Stock on
the earlier of (i) the date on which any Person becomes an Acquiring Person and
(ii) the date on which a tender or exchange offer by any Person (other than the
Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan maintained by
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any trustee or fiduciary with respect
to such plan acting in such capacity) is first published or sent or given within
the meaning of Rule 14d-4(a) of the Exchange Act Regulations or any successor
rule, if upon consummation thereof such Person would be the Beneficial Owner of
15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding (such exchange ratio
being hereinafter referred to as the "Section 24(a) Exchange Ratio").
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may not effect such exchange at any
time after any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company,
any employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
or any trustee or fiduciary with respect to such plan acting in such capacity),
together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, becomes the
Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection (a) of this
Section 24 and without any further action and without any notice, the right to
exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder
of such Rights shall be to receive that number of Units of Preferred Stock equal
to the number of such Rights held by such holder multiplied by the Section 24(a)
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 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 Units of Preferred Stock 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
31
than Rights which have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e)
hereof) held by each holder of Rights.
(c) In the event that the number of shares of Preferred Stock which
are authorized by the Company's Certificate of Incorporation but not outstanding
or reserved for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights are
not sufficient 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 shares of Preferred Stock for issuance upon exchange of
the Rights or make adequate provision to substitute (1) cash, (2) Company Common
Stock or other equity securities of the Company, (3) debt securities of the
Company, (4) other assets, or (5) any combination of the foregoing, having an
aggregate value equal to the Adjustment Spread, where such aggregate value has
been determined by the Board of Directors. To the extent that the Company
determines that some action need be taken pursuant to subsection (a) of this
Section 24, the Board of Directors may temporarily suspend the exercisability of
the Rights for a period of up to sixty (60) days following the date on which the
event described in Section 24(a) shall have occurred, in order to seek any
authorization of additional shares of Preferred Stock and/or to decide the
appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to the above provision and
to determine the value thereof. In the event of any such suspension, the Company
shall issue a public announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights
has been temporarily suspended.
(d) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions smaller
than or to distribute certificates which evidence fractions smaller than one
ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock. In lieu thereof, the Company shall
pay to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to which
such fractional Units would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the
same fraction of the current market value (as determined pursuant to Section
11(d)(i) hereof) of one Unit of Preferred Stock.
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 Stock or to make
any other distribution to the holders of its Preferred Stock (other than a
regular quarterly cash dividend), (ii) to offer to the holders of its Preferred
Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional Units of
Preferred Stock or shares of stock of any class or any other securities, rights
or options, (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Preferred Stock (other
than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding Preferred
Stock), (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger into or with any other Person
(other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with
Section 11(o)), 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 Stock payable in shares of Common Stock or to effect
a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of dividends in shares of Common
Stock), then, in each such case, the Company shall give to each holder of a
Rights Certificate, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of such
proposed action, which shall specify the record date for the
32
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 shares of Common Stock and/or shares
of Preferred Stock, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so
given in the case of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least ten
(10) days prior to the record date for determining holders of the shares of
Preferred Stock for purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other
action, at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed
action or the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of
Common Stock and/or shares of Preferred Stock, whichever shall be the earlier.
(b) In case any of the events set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof
shall occur, then the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to
each holder of a Rights 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. In the event any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, the Company will
promptly notify the Rights Agent thereof.
Section 26. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement
to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights
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:
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
Attention:____________________
Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, any notice or demand authorized
by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any
Rights Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sent by registered or
certified mail and shall be deemed given upon receipt and addressed (until
another address is filed in writing with the Company) as follows:
StarMedia Network, Inc.
29 West 36th Street
Fifth Floor
New York, New York 10018
Attention: Jack C. Chen, President
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate 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. Prior to the Distribution
Date, the Company may supplement or amend this Agreement in any respect, without
the approval of any holders of Rights, by action of its Board of Directors, and
the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, execute such supplement or
amendment. From and after the Distribution Date, the
33
Company may from time to time supplement or amend this Agreement without the
approval of any holders of Rights, by action of its Board of Directors in order
(i) to cure any ambiguity, (ii) to correct or supplement any provision contained
herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein,
(iii) to shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder or (iv) to change or
supplement the provisions hereunder in any manner which the Company may deem
necessary or desirable and which shall not adversely affect the interests of the
holders of Rights Certificates (other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate
or Associate of an Acquiring Person), including, without limitation, to change
the Purchase Price, the Redemption Price, any time periods herein specified, and
any other term hereof, any such supplement or amendment to be evidenced by a
writing signed by the Company and the Rights Agent; provided, however, that from
and after such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, this Agreement
shall not be amended in any manner which would adversely affect the interests of
the holders of Rights. Upon receipt of a certificate from an appropriate officer
of the Company that the proposed supplement or amendment is consistent with this
Section 27 and, after such time as any Person has become an Acquiring Person,
that the proposed supplement or amendment does not adversely affect the
interests of the holders of Rights, the Rights Agent shall execute such
supplement or amendment.
Section 28. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this
Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind
and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors.
For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of
determining the particular percentage of such outstanding shares of Common Stock
of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with
the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the Exchange Act. The Board of
Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive power and authority to
administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically
granted to the Board of Directors, or the Company, or as may be necessary or
advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including, without
limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this
Agreement and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the
administration of this Agreement (including a determination to redeem or not
redeem the Rights or to amend the Agreement). All such actions, calculations,
interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below,
all omissions with respect to the foregoing), which are done or made by the
Board of Directors in good faith, shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on
the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights Certificates and all
other parties and (y) not subject the Board of Directors to any liability to the
holders of the Rights.
Section 30. Benefits of This Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement
shall be construed to give to any person or corporation other than the Company,
the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and,
prior to the Distribution Date, shares of Common Stock) any legal or equitable
right, remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the
sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered
holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, shares
of Common Stock).
34
Section 31. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated;
provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or restriction is held by such
court or authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable and the Board of
Directors of the Company determines in its good faith judgment that severing the
invalid language from this Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or
effect of this Agreement, the right of redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof
shall be reinstated and shall not expire until the tenth Business Day following
the date of such determination by the Board of Directors of the Company.
Section 32. Governing Law. This Agreement and each Rights
Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the
laws of the State of New York 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.
Section 33. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be
deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute
but one and the same instrument.
Section 34. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the
several sections of this Agreement are inserted or convenience only and shall
not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions
hereof.
35
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed and attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
ATTEST: STARMEDIA NETWORK, INC.
By: By:
--------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Name: Name:
---------------------------- ---------------------------
Title: Title:
--------------------------- --------------------------
ATTEST: [RIGHTS AGENT]
By: By:
--------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Name: Name:
---------------------------- ---------------------------
Title: Title:
--------------------------- --------------------------
36
Exhibit A
FORM OF
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
of
SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
of
STARMEDIA NETWORK, INC.
(Pursuant to Section 151 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law)
----------------------------------
StarMedia Network, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (hereinafter called the
"Corporation"), hereby certifies that the following resolution was adopted by
the Board of Directors of the Corporation as required by Section 151 of the
General Corporation Law at a meeting duly called and held on May 4, 1999;
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority granted to and vested in
the Board of Directors of the Corporation (hereinafter called the "Board of
Directors" or the "Board") in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate
of Incorporation, the Board of Directors hereby creates a series of Preferred
Stock, par value $.001 per share (the "Preferred Stock"), of the Corporation and
hereby states the designation and number of shares, and fixes the relative
rights, preferences, and limitations thereof as follows:
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock:
Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series shall
be designated as "Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock" (the "Series A
Preferred Stock") and the number of shares constituting the Series A Preferred
Stock shall be five hundred thousand (500,000). Such number of shares may be
increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors; provided, that
no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to a
number less than the number of shares then outstanding plus the number of shares
reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or
warrants or upon the conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the
Corporation convertible into Series A Preferred Stock.
A-1
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 A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, each
holder of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, in preference to the
holders of shares of Common Stock, par value $.001 per share (the
"Common Stock"), of the Corporation, and of any other junior stock,
shall be entitled to receive, when declared by the Board of
Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly
dividends payable in cash on the first 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 Series A Preferred Stock, in an amount per
share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to, subject to the
provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, Ten Thousand
(10,000) times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends,
and Ten Thousand (10,000) times the aggregate per share amount
(payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions,
other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or a
subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock since
the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or, with
respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the
first issuance of a share or fraction of Series A Preferred Stock.
In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any
dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or
effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise
than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a
greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each
such case the amount to which holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under
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
shares of Series A 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, however, that, in the event no
dividend or distribution shall have been declared on the Common
Stock during the period between any Quarterly Distribution Date and
the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of
$10,000 per share of Series A Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be
payable on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.
(C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on each
outstanding share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock from the
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of
such share of Series A
A-2
Participating Preferred Stock, unless the date of issue of such
share is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date, in which case dividends on such share shall begin to
accrue from the date of issue of such share, 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 A
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 A
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 A
Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or
distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be not more
than 60 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
Section 3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:
(A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth,
each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder
thereof to Ten Thousand (10,000) votes on all matters submitted to a
vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. In the event the
Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the
Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a
subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by
payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or
lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the
number of votes per share to which holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such 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 creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar
stock, or by law, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
and the holders of shares of Common Stock and any other capital
stock of the Corporation having general voting rights shall vote
together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of
stockholders of the Corporation.
(C) Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise provided by law,
holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have no special voting
rights and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent
they are entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth
herein) for taking any corporate action.
A-3
Section 4. Certain Restrictions.
(A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions
payable on the Series A 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 A
Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the
Corporation shall not:
(i) declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions,
on any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A
Preferred Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends, or make any other
distributions, on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as
to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with
the Series A Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the
shares of Series A Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on
which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total
amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then entitled;
(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration shares of any stock ranking junior (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the
Series A Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation may at any
time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such junior
stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking
junior (either as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or
winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock; or
(iv) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
any shares of Series A Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock
ranking on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock, except in
accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication
(as determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of such
shares upon such terms as the Board of Directors, after
consideration of the respective annual dividend rates and other
relative rights and preferences of the respective series and
classes, shall determine in good faith will result in 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 A Preferred Stock
purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever
shall be retired and cancelled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such
shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of
Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock
subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein, in
A-4
the Certificate of Incorporation, or in any other Certificate of Designations
creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock or as otherwise
required by law.
Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.
(A) Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation, no distribution shall be made (1) to the holders of shares of stock
ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders
of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have received Ten Thousand Dollars
($10,000) per share, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment,
provided that the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be
entitled to receive an aggregate amount per share, subject to the provision for
adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 10,000 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 A Preferred Stock,
except distributions made ratably on the Series A Preferred Stock and all such
parity stock in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such
shares are entitled upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up. In the
event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the
Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or
combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common
Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each
such case the aggregate amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred
Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under the proviso in clause
(1) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a
fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such
event.
(B) In the event, however, that there are not sufficient assets
available to permit payment in full to the Series A Liquidation Preference and
the liquidation preferences of all other series of Preferred Stock, if any,
which rank on a parity with the Series A Participating Preferred Stock, then
such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders of such parity
shares in proportion to their respective liquidation preferences. In the event,
however, that there are not sufficient assets available to permit payment in
full of the Common Adjustment, then such remaining assets shall be distributed
ratably to the holders of Common Stock.
(C) In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights
Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of
Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the
outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case
the Adjustment Number in effect immediately prior to such event shall be
adjusted by multiplying such Adjustment Number by a fraction the numerator of
which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such
event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that
were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
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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 A Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or
changed into an amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment
hereinafter set forth, equal to Ten Thousand (10,000) 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 A Preferred Stock shall be adjusted
by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number
of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the
denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
Section 8. No Redemption. The shares of Series A Preferred Stock
shall not be redeemable.
Section 9. Rank. The Series A 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 Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation of the Corporation shall not be amended in any manner which would
materially alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the
Series A Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative
vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Series A
Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class.
A-6
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Designation is executed on
behalf of the Corporation by its President and its corporate seal attested by
its Secretary this __day of May, 1999.
Name:
--------------------------------
Title:
-------------------------------
Attest:
Name:
---------------------------------
Title:
--------------------------------
A-7
Exhibit B
Form of Rights Certificate
Certificate No. R- ________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER [TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF RECORD DATE] OR
EARLIER IF REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE OCCURS. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO
REDEMPTION AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY AT $.001 PER RIGHT AND TO
EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER
CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING
PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH
TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER
OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID. [THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY
THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON
WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE
OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS
AGREEMENT). ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS
REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES
SPECIFIED IN SUCH AGREEMENT.]*
Rights Certificate
STARMEDIA NETWORK, 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 May __, 1999 (the "Rights Agreement"), between StarMedia
Network, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and [NAME OF RIGHTS
AGENT] (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company at any time
- --------
* The portion of the legend in bracket shall be inserted only if
applicable and shall replace the preceding sentence.
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after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement)
and prior to 5:00 P.M., New York time, on May __, 2009 at the office of the
Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or at the office of its successor as
Rights Agent, one one-thousandth (a "Unit") of a fully paid non-assessable share
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.001 per share (the
"Series A Preferred Stock") of the Company, at a purchase price per Unit of
Series A Preferred Stock shall initially be the amount equal to the product of
four times the average daily closing price of the Common Stock for the first
five days of trading subsequent to the consummation of the initial public
offering of the Common Stock (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and
surrender of this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase duly
executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the
number of Units of Series A Preferred Stock 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 the date of the consummation of the Company's initial
public offering based on the Series A Preferred Stock as constituted at such
date. As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number of
Units of Series A Preferred Stock which may be purchased upon the exercise of
the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are subject to modification and
adjustment upon the happening of certain events.
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions
and conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions
are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates. Copies of
the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices of the
Company.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates,
upon surrender at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose,
may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates of like
tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like
aggregate number of Series A Preferred Stock as the Rights evidenced by the
Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such
holder to purchase. If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the
holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Rights
Certificate or Rights Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights
evidenced by this Certificate may be redeemed by the Company at a redemption
price of $.001 per Right.
No fractional shares of Series A Preferred Stock will be issued upon
the exercise of any Rights or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions
which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Series A
Preferred Stock, 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 Rights Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to
vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of Units of
Series A Preferred Stock or of any other securities of the Company which may at
any time be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the
Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the
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holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any
right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to
stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
stockholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive
dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Rights or Rights
evidenced by this Rights Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in
the Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any
purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the signature of the proper officers of the Company and its
corporate seal. Dated as of May __, 1999.
ATTEST: STARMEDIA NETWORK, INC.
By
- ----------------------------- ---------------------------------
Name: Name:
Title: Title:
Countersigned:
[NAME OF RIGHTS AGENT]
as Rights Agent
By
Authorized Signatory
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Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires to
transfer the Rights Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED______________________ hereby sells, assigns and
transfers unto
________________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address of transferee)
this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein,
and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint________________ Attorney, to
transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the within-named Company,
with full power of substitution.
Dated: ______________, __
________________________________________________________________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a participant in a Securities
Transfer Association Inc. recognized signature guarantee medallion program.
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CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this
Rights Certificate are not beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement).
________________________________________________________________________________
Signature
--------------------------------
NOTICE
The signature in the foregoing Form of Assignment must conform to
the name as written upon the face of this Rights 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 is not completed, the Company and the Rights Agent will deem the
beneficial owner of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate to be an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights
Agreement) and such Assignment will not be honored.
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FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise the Rights Certificate.)
To: STARMEDIA NETWORK, INC.
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise_______________
Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the units of Series A
Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that
certificates for such Series A Preferred Stock 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 Rights
Certificate, a new Rights 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 participant in a Securities
Transfer Association Inc. recognized signature guarantee medallion program.
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CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this
Rights Certificate are not beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement).
________________________________________________________________________________
Signature
----------------------------------
NOTICE
The signature in the foregoing Form of Election to Purchase must
conform to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every
particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
In the event the certification set forth above in 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
Rights Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate
thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and such Election to Purchase will
not be honored.
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Exhibit C
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
SHARES OF SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK
On May 4, 1999, the Board of Directors of StarMedia Network, Inc.
(the "Company") declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a
"Right") for each outstanding share of Common Stock (the "Common Stock"), par
value $.001 per share, of the Company. The dividend is payable upon the
consummation of the Company's initial public offering (the "Record Date") to the
stockholders of record on that date. Each Right entitles the registered holder
to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a share (a "Unit") of Series
A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.001 per share (the "Series A
Preferred Stock"), of the Company at a price per Unit equal to the product of
four times the average daily closing price of the Common Stock for the first
five days of trading subsequent to the consummation of the initial public
offering of the Common Stock (the "Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment. The
description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement dated as
of May __, 1999 (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and [NAME OF RIGHTS
AGENT], as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").
Until the earlier to occur of (i) the close of business on the first
date of a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated
persons (an "Acquiring Person") have acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or
more of the outstanding Common Stock or (ii) 10 business days (or such later
date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to such time
as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person) following the commencement of, or
announcement of an intention to make, a tender offer or exchange offer the
consummation of which would result in the beneficial ownership by a person or
group of 15% or more of such outstanding Common Stock (the earlier of such dates
being called the "Distribution Date"), the Rights will be evidenced, with
respect to any of the Common Stock certificates outstanding as of the Record
Date, by such Common Stock certificate with a copy of this Summary of Rights
attached thereto.
The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date, the
Rights will be transferred with and only with the Common Stock. Until the
Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), new
Common Stock certificates issued after the Record Date, upon transfer or new
issuance of Common Stock will contain a notation incorporating the Rights
Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or
expiration of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any certificates for
Common Stock, outstanding as of the Record Date, even without such notation or a
copy of this Summary of Rights being attached thereto, will also constitute the
transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such
certificate. As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate
certificates evidencing the Rights ("Rights Certificates") will be mailed to
holders of record of the Common Stock as of the Close of Business on the
Distribution Date and such separate Rights Certificates alone will evidence the
Rights.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The
Rights will expire at the close of business on May __, 2009 (the "Final
Expiration Date"), unless the Final
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Expiration Date is extended or unless the Rights are earlier redeemed or
exchanged by the Company, in each case as described below.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Units of Preferred
Stock or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are
subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of
a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the
Preferred Stock, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Units of Preferred Stock
of certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Units of Preferred
Stock at a price, or securities convertible into Units of Preferred Stock with a
conversion price, less than the then current market price of the Units of
Preferred Stock or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Units of
Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular
periodic cash dividends paid out of earnings or retained earnings or dividends
payable in Units of Preferred Stock) or of subscription rights or warrants
(other than those referred to above).
The number of outstanding Rights and the number of Units of
Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of each Right are also subject to
adjustment in the event of a stock split of the Common Stock or a stock dividend
on the Common Stock payable in Common Stock or subdivisions, consolidations or
combinations of the Common Stock occurring, in any such case, prior to the
Distribution Date.
Units of Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Rights
will not be redeemable. Each Unit of Preferred Stock will be entitled to a
dividend equal to any dividend declared per share of Common Stock. In the event
of liquidation, each Unit of Preferred Stock will be entitled to a payment equal
to any payment made per share of Common Stock. Each Unit of Preferred Stock will
have one vote, voting together with the Common Stock. Finally, in the event of
any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which shares of Common Stock
are exchanged, each Unit of Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive an
amount equal to the amount received per share of Common Stock. These rights are
protected by customary antidilution provisions.
Because of the nature of the dividend, liquidation and voting
rights, the value of each Unit of Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of
the Rights should approximate the value of one share of Common Stock.
In the event that, after the Rights become exercisable, the Company
is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction with an
Acquiring Person or an affiliate thereof, or 50% or more of its consolidated
assets or earning power are sold to an Acquiring Person or an affiliate thereof,
proper provision will be made so that each holder of a Right will thereafter
have the right to receive, upon exercise thereof at the then current exercise
price of the Rights, that number of shares of common stock of the acquiring
company which at the time of such transaction will have a market value of two
times the exercise price of the Rights.
In the event that any person or group of affiliated or associated
persons becomes the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right,
other than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which will
thereafter be void), will thereafter have the right to receive
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upon exercise that number of shares of Common Stock or Units of Preferred Stock
(or cash, other securities or property) having a market value of two times the
exercise price of the Rights.
At any time after the acquisition by a person or group of affiliated
or associated persons of beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock and prior to the acquisition by such person or group of
50% or more of the outstanding Common Stock, the Board of Directors of the
Company may exchange all or part of the Rights (other than Rights owned by such
person or group which have become void) for Units of Preferred Stock at an
exchange ratio (subject to adjustment) which shall equal, subject to adjustment
to reflect stock splits, stock dividends and similar transactions occurring
after the date hereof, that number obtained by dividing the Purchase Price by
the then current per share market price per Unit of Preferred Stock on the
earlier of (i) the date on which any Person becomes an Acquiring Person and (ii)
the date on which a tender or exchange offer is announced by any Person, if upon
consummation thereof such Person would be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of
the shares of Company Common Stock then outstanding.
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in
such Purchase Price. No fractional shares of Preferred Stock will be issued
(other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a
share of Preferred Stock, which may, at the election of the Company, be
evidenced by depositary receipts) and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash
will be made based on the market price of the Units of Preferred Stock on the
last trading day prior to the date of exercise.
At any time before the close of business on the date a person or
group of affiliated or associated persons acquire beneficial ownership of 15% or
more of the outstanding Common Stock or within ten (10) business days after the
announcement of a tender or exchange offer (unless the Board of Directors extend
such ten-day period), the Board of Directors of the Company may redeem the
Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.001 per Right (the "Redemption
Price"). The redemption of the rights may be made effective at such time on such
basis and with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion
may establish. Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to
exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights
will be to receive the Redemption Price. The Rights are also redeemable under
other circumstances as specified in the Agreement.
The terms of the Rights may be amended by the Board of Directors of
the Company without the consent of the holders of the Rights except that from
and after a Distribution Date no such amendment may adversely affect the
interests of the holders of the Rights.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have
no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the
right to vote or to receive dividends.
The Rights have certain anti-takeover effects. The Rights will cause
substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire the Company
on terms not approved by the Company's Board of Directors, except pursuant to an
offer conditioned on a substantial number
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of rights being acquired. The Rights should not interfere with any merger or
other business combination approved by the Board of Directors because the Rights
may be redeemed by the Company at the Redemption Price prior to the occurrence
of a Distribution Date.
A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of
charge from the Company. 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.
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