-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, RD9is/kVenPs92K5XuRQf+QDBrSRyib6fza0lS33Zx7Q8YJ8GZW7z5c44hcGcoBP NnqH2NLy38eqz76vF598Bg== 0000950144-98-012085.txt : 19981109 0000950144-98-012085.hdr.sgml : 19981109 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950144-98-012085 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-A12G PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 4 FILED AS OF DATE: 19981106 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: LAMALIE ASSOCIATES INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001038315 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SERVICES-MANAGEMENT CONSULTING SERVICES [8742] IRS NUMBER: 592776441 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 0228 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-A12G SEC ACT: SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-22645 FILM NUMBER: 98739859 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 200 PARK AVE STREET 2: STE 3100 CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10166-0136 BUSINESS PHONE: 8139617494 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 3903 NORTHDALE BLVD CITY: TAMPA STATE: FL ZIP: 33624 8-A12G 1 LAMALIE ASSOCIATES, INC. 1 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-A FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Commission file number 0-22645 LAMALIE ASSOCIATES, INC. ------------------------------------------------------ (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Florida 59-2776441 - ---------------------------- ------------------- (State or other jurisdiction (IRS Employer of incorporation) Identification No.)
200 Park Avenue New York, New York 10166-0136 - ---------------------------------------- ---------- (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code) (212) 953-7900 ------------------------------- (Registrant's telephone number)
If this Form relates to the registration If this Form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to of a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General is effective pursuant to General Instruction A.(c), please check the Instruction A.(c), please check the following box. [ ] following box. [X]
Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form relates: -------------------------------------------------- (If applicable) Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Title of Each Class Name of Each Exchange on Which to be so Registered Each Class is to be Registered ------------------------------- ------------------------------ Preferred Stock Purchase Rights None 2 ITEM 1. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED. The Company's Board of Directors has declared a dividend distribution of one preferred stock purchase right (a "Right") for each share of Common Stock of the Company ("Common Stock"), par value $.01 per share, outstanding at the close of business on November 16, 1998 (the "Record Date"), pursuant to the terms of a Stockholder Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") dated as of November 6, 1998, between the Company and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C. as Rights Agent. Subject to specified exceptions and limitations, shares of Common Stock issued or delivered after the Record Date also will be entitled to and accompanied by Rights. The Rights are in all respects subject to and governed by the provisions of the Rights Agreement, a copy of which (including all exhibits thereto) is filed as Exhibit 1 hereto and incorporated herein by this reference. A summary description of the Rights is set forth in Exhibit C to the Rights Agreement. ITEM 2. EXHIBITS. The Exhibits to this report are listed in the Index to Exhibits set forth elsewhere herein. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. LAMALIE ASSOCIATES, INC. Date: November 6, 1998 By: /s/ Philip R. Albright ---------------------------------- ---------------------------------- 3 INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit Number Description - ------- ----------- 1 Stockholder Rights Agreement (including a Form of Articles of Amendment of the Registrant's Articles of Incorporation to authorize shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock pursuant to the Stockholder Rights Agreement as Exhibit A thereto, a Form of Right Certificate as Exhibit B thereto, and a Summary of Stockholder Rights Agreement as Exhibit C thereto) 2 Press release, dated November 6, 1998, announcing the Stockholder Rights Agreement and dividend distribution of the Rights thereunder 3 Form of letter to stockholders, to be dated November 16, 1998, announcing the Stockholder Rights Agreement and dividend distribution of the Rights thereunder
3 EX-1 2 STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT 1 EXHIBIT 1 -------------------------------------------------------------- STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT -------------------------------------------------------------- LAMALIE ASSOCIATES, INC. and CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C. as Rights Agent -------------------------------------------------------------- Dated as of November 6, 1998 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page ---- SECTION 1 CERTAIN DEFINITIONS............................................ 1 SECTION 2 APPOINTMENT OF RIGHTS AGENT.................................... 4 SECTION 3 ISSUE OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES.................................... 5 SECTION 4 FORM OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES..................................... 6 SECTION 5 COUNTERSIGNATURE AND REGISTRATION.............................. 7 SECTION 6 TRANSFER, SPLIT UP, COMBINATION AND EXCHANGE OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES; MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN RIGHT CERTIFICATES...................................... 7 SECTION 7 EXERCISE OF RIGHTS, PURCHASE PRICE; EXPIRATION DATE OF RIGHTS...................................................... 8 SECTION 8 CANCELLATION AND DESTRUCTION OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES............. 9 SECTION 9 AVAILABILITY OF SHARES OF PREFERRED STOCK...................... 9 SECTION 10 PREFERRED STOCK RECORD DATE.................................... 11 SECTION 11 ADJUSTMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE, NUMBER OF SHARES AND NUMBER OF RIGHTS........................................... 11 SECTION 12 CERTIFICATE OF ADJUSTED PURCHASE PRICE OR NUMBER OF SHARES...................................................... 18 SECTION 13 CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SHARE EXCHANGE OR SALE OR TRANSFER OF ASSETS OR EARNINGS POWER........................ 18 SECTION 14 FRACTIONAL RIGHTS AND FRACTIONAL SHARES........................ 22 SECTION 15 RIGHTS OF ACTION............................................... 23 SECTION 16 AGREEMENT OF RIGHT HOLDERS..................................... 23 SECTION 17 RIGHT CERTIFICATE HOLDER NOT DEEMED A STOCKHOLDER.............. 24
3 SECTION 18 CONCERNING THE RIGHTS AGENT.................................... 24 SECTION 19 MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OR CHANGE OF NAME OF RIGHTS AGENT................................................... 25 SECTION 20 DUTIES OF RIGHTS AGENT......................................... 25 SECTION 21 CHANGE OF RIGHTS AGENT......................................... 27 SECTION 22 ISSUANCE OF NEW RIGHT CERTIFICATES............................. 28 SECTION 23 REDEMPTION..................................................... 28 SECTION 24 EXCHANGE....................................................... 29 SECTION 25 NOTICE OF CERTAIN EVENTS....................................... 30 SECTION 26 NOTICES........................................................ 31 SECTION 27 SUPPLEMENTS AND AMENDMENTS; CERTAIN BOARD ACTIONS.............. 32 SECTION 28 SUCCESSORS..................................................... 33 SECTION 29 BENEFITS OF THIS AGREEMENT..................................... 33 SECTION 30 DETERMINATIONS AND ACTIONS BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS................................................... 33 SECTION 31 SEVERABILITY................................................... 33 SECTION 32 GOVERNING LAW.................................................. 34 SECTION 33 COUNTERPARTS................................................... 34 SECTION 34 DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS........................................... 34
4 STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT THIS STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered into on and effective as of the 6th day of November, 1998 by and between LAMALIE ASSOCIATES, INC., a Florida corporation (the "Company" or "LAI"), and CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C., a New Jersey limited liability company (the "Rights Agent"). The Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board of Directors") has authorized and declared a dividend of one preferred stock purchase right (a "Right") for each share of Common Stock (as defined below) of the Company outstanding as of the close of business (as defined below) on November 16, 1998 (the "Record Date") each Right representing the right to purchase one-hundredth (subject to adjustment) of a share of Preferred Stock (as defined below), upon the terms and subject to the conditions herein set forth, and the Board of Directors has further authorized and directed the issuance of one Right (subject to adjustment as provided herein) 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 and the Final Expiration Date (as such terms are defined below); provided, however, that Rights may be issued with respect to shares of Common Stock that shall become outstanding after the Distribution Date and prior to the Redemption Date and the Final Expiration Date in accordance with Section 22 hereof. Accordingly, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows: SECTION 1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meaning indicated: (a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or which shall at any time be the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, but shall not include a Person who is at such time an Exempt Person; provided, however, that if the Board of Directors determines in good faith that a Person who would otherwise be an Acquiring Person has become such inadvertently (including, without limitation, because (i) such Person was unaware that it Beneficially Owned a percentage of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding that would otherwise cause such Person to be a Acquiring Person or (ii) such Person was aware of the extent of its Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock but had no actual knowledge of the consequences of such Beneficial Ownership under this Stockholder Rights Agreement) and without any intention of changing or influencing control of the Company, and such Person, as promptly as practicable after being advised of such determination divested or divests himself or itself of Beneficial Ownership of a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock so that such Person would no longer be an Acquiring Person, then such Person shall not be deemed to be or to have become an Acquiring Person for any purposes of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, 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 20% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, provided, however, that if a Person shall become the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding by reason of such share acquisitions by the Company and thereafter become the Beneficial Owner of any additional shares of Common Stock (other than pursuant to a dividend or 5 distribution paid or made by the Company on the outstanding Common Stock in shares of Common Stock or pursuant to a split or subdivision of the outstanding Common Stock), then such Person shall be deemed to be an Acquiring Person unless upon the consummation of the acquisition of such additional shares of Common Stock such Person does not own 20% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding. 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 General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), as in effect on the date hereof. (b) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), as in effect on the date of this Agreement. (c) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, shall be deemed to have "Beneficial Ownership" of and shall be deemed to "Beneficially Own" any securities: (i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates is deemed to Beneficially Own, directly or indirectly within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date of this Agreement; (ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates has (A) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (other than customary agreements with and between underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide public offering of securities), or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially Own, (x) 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, (y) securities which such Person has a right to acquire on the exercise of Rights at any time prior to the time a Person becomes an Acquiring Person or (z) securities issuable upon exercise of Rights from and after the time a Person becomes an Acquiring Person if such Rights were acquired by such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates prior to the Distribution Date or pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section 22 hereof ("Original Rights") or pursuant to Section 11(i) or Section 11(n) hereof with respect to an adjustment to Original Rights; or (B) the right to vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially Own, any security by reason of such agreement, arrangement or understanding if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such security (1) arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and (2) is not also then reportable on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report); or Page 2 6 (iii) which are Beneficially Owned, directly or indirectly, by any other Person with which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding (other than customary agreements with and between underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide public offering of securities) for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except to the extent contemplated by the proviso to Section 1(c)(ii)(B) hereof) or disposing of any securities of the Company. (d) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, or a day on which banking institutions in the State of Florida 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. (e) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M., Tampa, Florida time on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., Tampa, Florida time on the next succeeding Business Day. (f) "Common Stock" when used with reference to the Company shall mean the common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company. "Common Stock" when used with reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean the capital stock (or, in the case of an unincorporated entity, the equivalent 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. (g) "Current Per Share Market Price"shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(d) hereof. (h) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3 hereof. (i) "Equivalent Preferred Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(b) hereof. (j) "Exempt Person" shall mean (1) the Company, (2) any Subsidiary of the Company, in each case including, without limitation, in its fiduciary capacity, (3) any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any entity or trustee holding Common Stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan or for the purpose of funding any such plan or funding other employee benefits for employees of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company or (4) any "holding company" within the meaning of Florida Statutes Section 607.1145 that, in a merger pursuant to such section, becomes the owner of all shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the consummation of such merger. (k) "Final Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7 hereof. (l) "Nasdaq" shall mean The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. ("Nasdaq") or any successor organization. (m) "New York Stock Exchange" shall mean the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Page 3 7 (n) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, limited liability company, corporation or other entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity. (o) "Preferred Stock" shall mean the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company having the rights and preferences set forth in the form of Articles of Amendment attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A. (p) "Record Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement. (q) "Redemption Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7 hereof. (r) "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. (s) "Stock 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 or such earlier date as a majority of the Board of Directors shall become aware of the existence of an Acquiring Person. (t) "Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any corporation or other entity of which securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power sufficient to elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing similar functions are Beneficially Owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person, and any corporation or other entity that is otherwise controlled by such Person. (u) "Trading Day" shall mean, as to any security, (i) if the security is listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, any day on which the principal national securities exchange on which such security is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business, or (ii) if the security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange but is listed or admitted to trading or has prices for such security quoted on any market or quotation system operated by Nasdaq, any day on which such market or quotation system is open for the transaction of business, or (iii) otherwise, a Business Day. 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 upon ten (10) days' prior written notice to the Rights Agent. No co-Rights Agent shall have any duty to supervise, nor shall any co-Rights Agent have any liability for or with respect to any act or omission of, any other co-Rights Agent. Page 4 8 SECTION 3. ISSUE OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES. (a) Until the earlier of (i) the tenth day after the Stock Acquisition Date or (ii) the tenth business day (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) after the date of the commencement by any Person (other than an Exempt Person) of, or of the first public announcement of the intention of such Person (other than an Exempt Person) to commence, a tender or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in any Person (other than an Exempt Person) becoming the Beneficial Owner of shares of Common Stock aggregating 20% or more of the Common Stock then outstanding (including any such date which is after the date of this Agreement and prior to the issuance of the Rights), the earlier of such dates being herein referred to as the "Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will be evidenced (subject to the provisions of Section 3(b) hereof) by the certificates for Common Stock registered in the names of the holders thereof and not by separate Right Certificates, and (y) the Rights will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of Common Stock. As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Company will prepare and execute, the Rights Agent will countersign, and the Company will send or cause to be sent (and the Rights Agent will, if requested and provided with all necessary information, send) by first-class, insured, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date (other than any Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person), at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company, a Right Certificate, in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (a "Right Certificate"), evidencing one Right (subject to adjustment as provided herein) for each share of Common Stock so held. As of the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Right Certificates. (b) On the Record Date, or as soon as practicable thereafter, the Company will send a copy of a Summary of Stockholder Rights Agreement, in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto (the "Summary of Stockholder Rights Agreement"), by first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common Stock as of the close of business on the Record Date (other than any Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of any Acquiring Person), at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company. With respect to certificates for 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 the Summary of Stockholder Rights Agreement. Until the Distribution Date (or the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration Date), the surrender for transfer of any certificate for Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date, with or without a copy of the Summary of Stockholder Rights Agreement, shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented thereby. (c) Certificates issued for Common Stock (including, without limitation, upon transfer of outstanding Common Stock, disposition of Common Stock out of treasury stock or issuance or reissuance of Common Stock out of authorized but unissued shares) after the Record Date but prior to the earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration Date shall have impressed on, printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them the following legend: Page 5 9 This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to certain rights as set forth in a Stockholder Rights Agreement between Lamalie Associates, Inc. (the "Company") and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C. dated as of November 6, 1998 as the same may be amended from time to time (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 the Company. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced by separate certificates and will no longer be evidenced by this certificate. The Company will mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement without charge after receipt of a written request therefor. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights owned by or transferred to any Person who becomes an Acquiring Person (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and certain transferees thereof will become null and void and will no longer be transferable. With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the Distribution Date, the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone, and the surrender for transfer of any such certificate, except as otherwise provided herein, shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented thereby. In the event that the Company purchases or otherwise acquires any Common Stock after the Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such Common Stock shall be deemed cancelled and retired so that the Company shall not be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with the Common Stock which are no longer outstanding. Notwithstanding this Section 3(c), the omission of a legend shall not affect the enforceability of any part of this Agreement or the rights of any holder of the Rights. SECTION 4. FORM OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES. The Right Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase shares and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall be substantially in the form set forth in 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 (which do not affect the duties and responsibilities of the Rights Agent) and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange, market or quotation system on which the Rights may from time to time be listed or admitted to trading or on which prices therefor may be quoted, or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of Sections 11, 13 and 22 hereof, the Right Certificates shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock as shall be set forth therein at the price per one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock set forth therein (the "Purchase Price"), but the number of such one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock and the Purchase Price shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein. Page 6 10 SECTION 5. COUNTERSIGNATURE AND REGISTRATION. (a) The Right Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President, any of the Vice Presidents, the Treasurer or the Controller of the Company, 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 Right 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 Right Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by the Company, such Right Certificates, nevertheless, may be countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the Company with the same force and effect as though the Person who signed such Right Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Right Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by any Person who, at the actual date of the execution of such Right Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such Right Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Agreement any such Person was not such an officer. (b) Following the Distribution Date and receipt by the Rights Agent of any relevant information, the Rights Agent will keep or cause to be kept, at an office or agency designated for such purpose, books for registration and transfer of the Right Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the names and addresses of the respective holders of the Right Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Right Certificates and the date of each of the Right Certificates. SECTION 6. TRANSFER, SPLIT UP, COMBINATION AND EXCHANGE OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES; MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN RIGHT CERTIFICATES. (a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 7(e), 11(a)(ii) and 14 hereof, at any time after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and prior to the close of business on the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration Date, any Right Certificate or Right Certificates may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates, entitling the registered holder to purchase a like number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock as the Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered then entitled such holder to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Right Certificate or Right Certificates shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Right Certificate or Right Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the office or agency of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto a Right Certificate or Right Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Right Certificates. The Rights Agent shall have no duty or obligation under this Section unless and until it is satisfied that all such taxes and/or charges have been paid. Page 7 11 (b) Subject to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, at any time after the Distribution Date and prior to the close of business on the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration Date, upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Right Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to them, and, at the Company's request, reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Right Certificate if mutilated, the Company will make and deliver a new Right Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for delivery to the registered holder in lieu of the Right Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated. SECTION 7. EXERCISE OF RIGHTS, PURCHASE PRICE; EXPIRATION DATE OF RIGHTS. (a) Except as otherwise provided herein, the Rights shall become exercisable on the Distribution Date, and thereafter the registered holder of any Right Certificate may, subject to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof and except as otherwise provided herein, exercise the Rights evidenced thereby in whole or in part upon surrender of the Right Certificate, with the form of election to purchase on the reverse side thereof duly and properly executed, to the Rights Agent at the office or agency of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, together with payment of the Purchase Price for each one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock as to which the Rights are exercised, at any time which is both after the Distribution Date and prior to the earliest of (i) the close of business on November 15, 2008 (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. (b) The Purchase Price shall be initially $50 for each one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock purchasable upon the exercise of a Right. The Purchase Price and the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock or other securities or property to be acquired upon exercise of a Right 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 Section 7(c) hereof. (c) Except as otherwise provided herein, upon receipt of a Right Certificate representing exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase duly executed, accompanied by payment of the aggregate Purchase Price for the shares of Preferred Stock to be purchased and an amount equal to any applicable tax or charge required to be paid by the holder of such Right Certificate in accordance with Section 9 hereof, in cash or by certified check, cashier's check or money order payable to the order of the Company, the Rights Agent shall thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer agent of the Preferred Stock certificates for the number of shares of Preferred Stock to be purchased and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with all such requests, or (B) requisition from the depositary agent depositary receipts representing interests in such number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock as are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the Preferred Stock represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent with the depositary agent) and the Company hereby directs the depositary agent to comply with Page 8 12 such request, (ii) when appropriate, requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of issuance of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii) promptly after receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such holder and (iv) when appropriate, after receipt, promptly deliver such cash to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate. (d) Except as otherwise provided herein, in case the registered holder of any Right Certificate shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Right Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the exercisable Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent to the registered holder of such Right Certificate or to his duly authorized assigns, subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof. (e) 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 registered holder of Rights upon the occurrence of any purported transfer or exercise of Rights pursuant to Section 6 hereof or this Section 7 unless such registered holder shall have (i) properly completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of assignment or election to purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate surrendered for such transfer or exercise and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) thereof as the Company or the Rights Agent shall reasonably request. SECTION 8. CANCELLATION AND DESTRUCTION OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES. All Right Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up, combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or to any of its agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in cancelled form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be cancelled by it, and no Right 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 Right Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all cancelled Right Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request of the Company, destroy such cancelled Right Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company. SECTION 9. AVAILABILITY OF SHARES OF PREFERRED STOCK. (a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock or any shares of Preferred Stock held in its treasury, the number of shares of Preferred Stock that will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights. (b) If at any time, and for so long as, the shares of Preferred Stock (and, following the time that a Person becomes an Acquiring Person, shares of Common Stock and other securities) issuable upon Page 9 13 the exercise of Rights may be listed or admitted to trading or may have prices therefor quoted on any national securities exchange or any market or quotation system, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause, from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, all shares reserved for such issuance to be listed or admitted to trading or have prices therefor quoted on such exchange, market or quotation system upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise. (c) From and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, the Company shall use its best efforts, if then necessary to permit the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock (and following the time that a Person first becomes an Acquiring Person, shares of Common Stock and other securities) upon the exercise of Rights, to register and qualify such shares of Preferred Stock (and following the time that a Person first becomes an Acquiring Person, shares of Common Stock and other securities) under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities or "Blue Sky" laws (to the extent exemptions therefrom are not available), cause such registration statement and qualifications to become effective as soon as possible after such filing and keep such registration and qualifications effective until the earlier of the date as of which the Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities and the Final Expiration Date. The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to exceed 90 days, the exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and file a registration statement under the Securities Act and permit it to become effective. Upon any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect (with prompt written notice to the Rights Agent of such announcement). 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 and until a registration statement under the Securities Act (if required) shall have been declared effective. (d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action as may be necessary to ensure that all shares of Preferred Stock (and, following the time that a Person becomes an Acquiring Person, shares of Common Stock and other securities) delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates therefor (subject to payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and nonassessable shares. (e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when due and payable any and all federal and state taxes and charges which may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Right Certificates or of any shares of Preferred Stock (or shares of Common Stock or other securities) upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any tax or charge which may be payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of Right Certificates to a Person other than, or the issuance or delivery of certificates or depositary receipts for the Preferred Stock (or shares of Common Stock or other securities) in a name other than that of, the registered holder of the Right Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or deliver any certificates or depositary receipts for Preferred Stock (or shares of Common Stock or other securities) upon the exercise of any Rights until any such tax or charge shall have been paid (any such tax or charge being payable by that holder of such Right Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has been established to the Company's reasonable satisfaction that no such tax or charge is due. Page 10 14 SECTION 10. PREFERRED STOCK RECORD DATE. Each Person in whose name any certificate for Preferred Stock is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the shares of Preferred Stock represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Right Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price (and any applicable taxes or charges) was made; provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Preferred Stock transfer books of the Company are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such shares on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the Preferred Stock transfer books of the Company are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a Right Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a holder of Preferred Stock for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends or other distributions, 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 AND NUMBER OF RIGHTS. The Purchase Price, the number of shares of Preferred Stock or other securities or property purchasable upon exercise of each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 11. (a) (i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the date of this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred Stock payable in shares of Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Stock, (C) combine the outstanding Preferred Stock into a smaller number of 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 Right exercised after such time shall be entitled to receive the aggregate number and kind of shares of capital stock which, if such Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date and at a time when the Preferred Stock transfer books of the Company were open, the holder would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification. (ii) Subject to Section 24 hereof, in the event that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, then (A) the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such Person becoming an Acquiring Person multiplied by the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such Person becoming an Acquiring Person, whether or not such Right was then exercisable, and (B) each holder of a Right, except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a)(ii) and Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise at a price equal to the Purchase Price (as so Page 11 15 adjusted), in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of shares of Preferred Stock, such number of shares of Common Stock (or at the option of the Company, such number of one one-hundredths of shares of Preferred Stock) as shall equal the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right is then exercisable and dividing that product by (y) 50% of the then Current Per Share Market Price of the Company's Common Stock (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the date such Person became an Acquiring Person; provided, however, that the Purchase Price and the number of shares of Common Stock so receivable upon exercise of a Right shall thereafter be subject to further adjustment as appropriate in accordance with Section 11(f) hereof. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, however, from and after the time (the "Invalidation Time") when any Person first becomes an Acquiring Person, any Rights that are Beneficially Owned by (x) any Acquiring Person (or any Affiliate or Associate of any Acquiring Person), (y) a transferee of any Acquiring Person (or any such Affiliate or Associate) who becomes a transferee after the Invalidation Time or (z) a transferee of any Acquiring Person (or any such Affiliate or Associate) who became a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Invalidation Time pursuant to either (I) a transfer from the Acquiring Person to holders of its equity securities or to any Person with whom it has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (II) a transfer which the Board of Directors has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has the purpose or effect of avoiding the provisions of this Section 11(a)(ii), and subsequent transferees of such Persons, shall be null and void without any further action and any holder of such Rights shall thereafter have no rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights under any provision of this Agreement. The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to ensure that the provisions of this Section 11(a)(ii) are complied with, but shall have no liability to any holder of Right Certificates or other Person as a result of its failure to make any determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or its Affiliates, Associates or transferees hereunder. From and after the Invalidation Time, no Right Certificate shall be issued pursuant to Section 3 or Section 6 hereof that represents Rights that are or have become null and void pursuant to the provisions of this Section 11(a)(ii), and any Right Certificate delivered to the Rights Agent that represents Rights that are or have become null and void pursuant to the provisions of this Section 11(a)(ii) shall be canceled. From and after the occurrence of an event specified in Section 13(a) hereof, any Rights that theretofore have not been exercised pursuant to this Section 11(a)(ii) shall thereafter be exercisable only in accordance with Section 13 and not pursuant to this Section 11(a)(ii). (iii) The Company may at its option substitute for a share of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of Rights in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii) hereof such number or fractions of shares of Preferred Stock having an aggregate current market value equal to the Current Per Share Market Price of a share of Common Stock. In the event that there shall not be sufficient shares of Common Stock issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the Board of Directors shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law and any material agreements then in effect to which the Company is a party (A) determine the excess of (1) the value of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of a Right in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii) hereof (the "Current Value") over (2) the then current Purchase Price multiplied by the number of one one-hundredths of shares of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the time that the Acquiring Person Page 12 16 became such (such excess, the "Spread"), and (B) with respect to each Right (other than Rights which have become void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof), make adequate provision to substitute for the shares of Common Stock issuable in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii) hereof upon exercise of the Right and payment of the applicable Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (3) shares of Preferred Stock or other equity securities of the Company (including, without limitation, shares or fractions of shares of preferred stock which, by virtue of having dividend, voting and liquidation rights substantially comparable to those of the shares of Common Stock, are deemed in good faith by the Board of Directors to have substantially the same value as the shares of Common Stock (such shares of preferred stock and shares or fractions of shares of preferred stock are hereinafter referred to as "Common Stock Equivalents"), (4) debt securities of the Company, (5) other assets, or (6) any combination of the foregoing, having a value which, when added to the value of the shares of Common Stock actually issued upon exercise of such Right, shall have an aggregate value equal to the Current Value (less the amount of any reduction in the Purchase Price), where such aggregate value has been determined by the Board of Directors upon the advice of a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected in good faith by the Board of Directors; provided, however, if the Company shall not make adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above within thirty (30) days following the date that the Acquiring Person became such (the "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date"), then the Company shall be obligated to deliver, to the extent permitted by applicable law and any material agreements then in effect to which the Company is a party, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and without requiring payment of the Purchase Price, shares of Common Stock (to the extent available), and then, if necessary, such number or fractions of shares of Preferred Stock (to the extent available) and then, if necessary, cash, which shares and/or cash have an aggregate value equal to the Spread. If, upon the date any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, the Board of Directors shall determine in good faith that it is likely that sufficient additional shares of Common Stock could be authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights, then, if the Board of Directors so elects, the thirty (30) day period set forth above may be extended to the extent necessary, but not more than ninety (90) days after the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date, in order that the Company may seek stockholder approval for the authorization of such additional shares (such thirty (30) day period, as it may be extended, is herein called the "Substitution Period"). To the extent that the Company determines that some action need be taken pursuant to the second and/or third sentence of this Section 11(a)(iii), the Company (x) shall provide, subject to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof and the last sentence of this Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, that such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights and (y) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights until the expiration of the Substitution Period in order to seek any authorization of additional shares and/or to decide the appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to such second sentence and to determine the value thereof. In the event of any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect (with prompt written notice of such announcements to the Rights Agent). For purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii), the value of the shares of Common Stock shall be the Current Per Share Market Price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) hereof) on the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date and the per share or fractional value of any "Common Stock Equivalent" shall be deemed to equal the Current Per Share Market Price of the Common Stock. The Board of Directors may, but shall not be required to, establish procedures Page 13 17 to allocate the right to receive shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of the Rights among holders of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(a)(iii). (b) In case the Company shall fix a Record Date for the issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Stock entitling them (for a period expiring within 45 calendar days after such Record Date) to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Stock (or shares having the same rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred Stock ("Equivalent Preferred Shares")) or securities convertible into Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred Shares at a price per share of Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred Shares (or having a conversion price per share, if a security convertible into shares of Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred Shares) less than the then Current Per Share Market Price of the Preferred Stock (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on such Record Date, the Purchase Price to be in effect after such Record Date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such Record Date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock and Equivalent Preferred Shares outstanding on such Record Date plus the number of shares of Preferred Stock and Equivalent Preferred Shares which the aggregate offering price of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock and/or Equivalent Preferred Shares so to be offered (and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities so to be offered) would purchase at such current market price, and the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock and Equivalent Preferred Shares outstanding on such Record Date plus the number of additional shares of Preferred Stock and/or Equivalent Preferred Shares to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be offered are initially convertible). 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, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent. Shares of Preferred Stock and Equivalent Preferred Shares owned by or held for the account of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a Record Date is fixed; and in the event that such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the Pur chase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such Record Date had not been fixed. (c) In case the Company shall fix a Record Date for the making of a distribution to all holders of the Preferred 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 or assets (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend or a dividend payable in Preferred Stock) or subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b) hereof), the Purchase Price to be in effect after such Record Date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such Record Date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the then Current Per Share Market Price of the Preferred Stock (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on such Record Date, less the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent) of the portion of the assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants applicable to one share of Preferred Stock, and the denominator of which shall be such Current Per Share Market Price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) of the Preferred Page 14 18 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) Except as otherwise provided herein, for the purpose of any computation hereunder, the "Current Per Share Market Price" of any security on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of such security for the 30 consecutive Trading Days (as such term is defined below) immediately prior to but not including 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 30 Trading Days after but not including the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or the Record Date for such subdivision, combination or reclassification, then, and in each such case, the Current Per Share Market Price shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect the current market price per share equivalent of such security. The closing price for any day shall be (X) 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 by (1) the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, or (2) if the security is not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, 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 (Y) 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, as reported by any market or quotation system operated by Nasdaq, or (Z) if prices for the security are not reported by any such market or quotation system, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the security and selected by the Board of Directors. (ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, if the Preferred Stock is publicly traded, 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) hereof. If the Preferred Stock is not publicly traded but the Common Stock is publicly traded, the Current Per Share Market Price of the Preferred Stock shall be conclusively deemed to be the Current Per Share Market Price of the Common Stock as deter mined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) hereof multiplied by one hundred (appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof). If neither the Common Stock nor the Preferred Stock is publicly traded, Current Per Share Market Price shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent. (e) No adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in the Purchase Price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section 11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock or share of Page 15 19 Common Stock or other share or security as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e), any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier of (i) three years from the date of the transaction which requires such adjustment or (ii) the date of the expiration of the right to exercise any Rights. (f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock of the Company other than the Preferred Stock, thereafter the Purchase Price and the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of a Right shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the Preferred Stock contained in Sections 11(a), 11(b), 11(c), 11(e), 11(h), 11(i) and 11(m) hereof and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 hereof 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 one one-hundredths of a share 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) hereof, upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a result of the calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c) hereof, each Right outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock (calculated to the nearest one ten- thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of one one-hundredths of a share covered by a Right immediately prior to such adjustment by (y) the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment of the Purchase Price and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase Price. (i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in substitution for any adjustment in the number of one one-hundredths of a share 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 one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest one 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 (with prompt written notice thereof to the Rights Agent) of its election to adjust the number of Rights, indicating the Record Date for the adjustment, and, if known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. This Record Date may be the date on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Right Certificates have been issued, shall be at least 10 days later than the date of the public announcement. If Right Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the Company may, as Page 16 20 promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of Right Certificates on such Record Date Right Certificates evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement for the Right Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new Right Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such adjustment. Right Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner provided for herein and shall be registered in the names of the holders of record of Right Certificates on the Record Date specified in the public announcement. (j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Right Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express the Purchase Price and the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock which were expressed in the initial Right Certificates issued hereunder. (k) The Company may take any corporate action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable shares of Preferred Stock or other such shares at the Purchase Price (including as adjusted from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement). (l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a Record Date for a specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such event the issuing to the holder of any Right exercised after such Record Date of the Preferred Stock and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the 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 upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment. (m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Purchase Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, as and to the extent that it in its sole discretion shall determine to be advisable in order that any consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred Stock, issuance wholly for cash of any shares of Preferred Stock at less than the current market price, issuance wholly for cash or Preferred Stock or securities which by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for Preferred Stock, dividends on Preferred Stock payable in shares of Preferred Stock or issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to in Section 11(b) hereof, hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Preferred Stock shall not be taxable to such stockholders. (n) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, 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 the Common Stock payable in Common Stock or (ii) effect a subdivision, Page 17 21 combination or consolidation of the Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend payable in Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of Common Stock, then in any such case, the number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock then outstanding, or issued or delivered thereafter, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the number of Rights thereafter associated with each share of Common Stock following any such event shall equal the result obtained by multiplying the number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock immediately prior to such event by a fraction the numerator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence of the event and the denominator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately following the occurrence of such event. (o) The Company agrees that, after the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Stock Acquisition Date, it will not, except as permitted by Sections 23, 24 or 27 hereof, take (or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action if at the time such action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action will diminish substantially or eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights. SECTION 12. CERTIFICATE OF ADJUSTED PURCHASE PRICE OR NUMBER OF SHARES. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 or 13 hereof, the Company shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment, and a brief reasonably detailed statement of the facts and computations accounting for such adjustment, (b) promptly file with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Common Stock or the Preferred Stock a copy of such certificate and (c) mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Right Certificate in accordance with Section 25 hereof (if so required under Section 25 hereof). The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment therein contained and shall have no duty with respect to and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any such adjustment unless and until it shall have received such certificate. SECTION 13. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SHARE EXCHANGE OR SALE OR TRANSFER OF ASSETS OR EARNINGS POWER. (a) In the event, directly or indirectly, at any time after any Person has become an Acquiring Person, (i) the Company shall merge with and into any other Person, (ii) any Person shall consolidate with the Company, or any Person shall merge with and into the Company and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of such merger and, in connection with such merger, all or part of the Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other Person (or of the Company) or cash or any other property, (iii) the Company shall effect a statutory share exchange with the outstanding Common Stock of the Company being exchanged for stock or other securities of any other Person, or for money or other property, or (iv) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer), in one or more transactions, assets or earning power aggregating 50% or more of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person (other than the Company or one or more of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries), then upon the first occurrence of such Page 18 22 event, proper provision shall be made so that: (A) each holder of record of a Right (other than Rights which have become null and void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at a price equal to the then current Purchase Price multiplied by the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable (whether or not such Right was then exercisable) immediately prior to the time that any Person first became an Acquiring Person (each as subsequently adjusted thereafter pursuant to Sections 11(a)(i), 11(b), 11(c), 11(h), 11(i) and 11(m) hereof), in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of Preferred Stock, such number of validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and freely tradeable shares of Common Stock of the Principal Party (as defined herein) not subject to any liens, encumbrances, rights of first refusal or other adverse claims, as shall be equal to the result obtained by (1) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the time that any Person first became an Acquiring Person (as subsequently adjusted thereafter pursuant to Sections 11(a)(i), 11(b), 11(c), 11(h), 11(i) and 11(m) hereof) and (2) dividing that product by 50% of the then Current Per Share Market Price of the Common Stock of such Principal Party (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) hereof) on the date of consummation of such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer; provided that the Purchase Price and the number of shares of Common Stock of such Principal Party issuable upon exercise of each Right shall be further adjusted as provided in Section 11(f) hereof to reflect any events occurring in respect of such Principal Party after the date of the such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer; (B) such Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement; (C) the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal Party; and (D) such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of its shares of Common Stock in accordance with Section 9 hereof) in connection with such consummation of any such transaction as may be necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to the shares of its Common Stock thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights; provided that, upon the subsequent occurrence of any consolidation, merger, sale or transfer of assets or other extraordinary transaction in respect of such Principal Party, each holder of a Right shall thereupon be entitled to receive, upon exercise of a Right and payment of the Purchase Price as provided in this Section 13(a), such cash, shares, rights, warrants and other property which such holder would have been entitled to receive had such holder, at the time of such transaction, owned the Common Stock of the Principal Party receivable upon the exercise of a Right pursuant to this Section 13(a), and such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not limited to, reservation of shares of stock) as may be necessary to permit the subsequent exercise of the Rights in accordance with the terms hereof for such cash, shares, rights, warrants and other property. (b) "Principal Party" shall mean (i) in the case of any transaction described in (i) or (ii) of the first sentence of Section 13(a) hereof: (A) the Person that is the issuer of the securities into which the shares of Common Stock are converted in such merger or consolidation, or, if there is more than one such issuer, the issuer the shares of Common Stock of which have the greatest aggregate market value of shares outstanding, or (B) if no securities are so issued, (x) the Person that is the other party to the merger, if such Person Page 19 23 survives said merger, or, if there is more than one such Person, the Person the shares of Common Stock of which have the greatest aggregate market value of shares outstanding or (y) if the Person that is the other party to the merger does not survive the merger, the Person that does survive the merger (including the Company if it survives) or (z) the Person resulting from the consolidation; and (ii) in the case of any transaction described in (iii) of the first sentence in Section 13(a) hereof, the Person that is the issuer of any securities for which shares of Common Stock of the Company are exchanged, and if no securities are so exchanged, the Person that is the other party to such share exchange; and (iii) in the case of any transaction described in (iv) of the first sentence in Section 13(a) hereof, the Person that is the party receiving the greatest 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 so transferred or if the Person receiving the greatest portion of the assets or earning power cannot be determined, whichever of such Persons as is the issuer of Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market value of shares outstanding; provided, however, that in any such case described in the foregoing clause (b)(i), (b)(ii) or b(iii), if the Common Stock of such Person is not at such time or has not been continuously over the preceding 12-month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, then (1) if such Person is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person the Common Stock of which is and has been so registered, the term "Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person, or (2) if such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than one Person, and the Common Stocks of all of such persons have been so registered, the term "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the issuer of Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market value of shares outstanding, or (3) if such Person is owned, directly or indirectly, by a joint venture formed by two or more Persons that are not owned, directly or indirectly, by the same Person, the rules set forth in clauses (1) and (2) above shall apply to each of the owners having an interest in the venture as if the Person owned by the joint venture was a Subsidiary of both or all of such joint venturers, and the Principal Party in each such case shall bear the obligations set forth in this Section 13 in the same ratio as its interest in such Person bears to the total of such interests. (c) The Company shall not consummate any consolidation, merger, sale or transfer referred to in Section 13(a) hereof unless prior thereto the Company and the Principal Party involved therein shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent an agreement confirming that the requirements of Sections 13(a) and (b) hereof shall promptly be performed in accordance with their terms and that such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer of assets shall not result in a default by the Principal Party under this Agreement as the same shall have been assumed by the Principal Party pursuant to Sections 13(a) and (b) hereof and providing that, as soon as practicable after executing such agreement pursuant to this Section 13, the Principal Party will: (i) prepare and file a registration statement under the Securities Act, if necessary, with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to remain Page 20 24 effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Securities Act) until the Final Expiration Date, and similarly comply with applicable state securities laws; (ii) use its best efforts, if the Common Stock of the Principal Party shall be listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or on another national securities exchange, to list or admit to trading (or continue the listing of) the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on the New York Stock Exchange or such other securities exchange, or, if the Common Stock of the Principal Party shall not be listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or a national securities exchange, to cause the Rights and the securities receivable upon exercise of the Rights to be reported by such other system then in use; (iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial statements for the Principal Party which comply in all respects with the requirements for registration on Form 10 (or any successor form) under the Exchange Act; and (iv) obtain waivers of any rights of first refusal or preemptive rights in respect of the Common Stock of the Principal Party subject to purchase upon exercise of outstanding Rights. (d) In case the Principal Party has provision in any of its authorized securities or in its articles or certificate of incorporation or by-laws or other instrument governing its corporate affairs, which provision would have the effect of (i) causing such Principal Party to issue (other than to holders of Rights pursuant to this Section 13), 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 thereof (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) or securities exercisable for, or convertible into, Common Stock of such Principal Party at less than such then current market price, or (ii) providing for any special payment, tax or similar provision in connection with the issuance of the Common Stock of such Principal Party pursuant to the provisions of Section 13 hereof, then, in such event, the Company hereby agrees with each holder of Rights that it 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 Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any time after a Person first becomes an Acquiring Person enter into any transaction of the type contemplated by (i) - (iv) of Section 13(a) hereof if (x) at the time of or immediately after such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or other transaction 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, (y) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer of other transaction, the stockholders of the Person who constitutes, or would constitute, the Principal Party for purposes of Section 13(a) hereof shall have received a distribution of Rights previously owned by such Person or any of its Affiliates or Associates or (z) the form or nature of organization of the Principal Party would preclude or limit the exercisability of the Rights. Page 21 25 SECTION 14. FRACTIONAL RIGHTS AND FRACTIONAL SHARES. (a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or to distribute Right Certificates which evidence fractional Rights (except prior to the Distribution Date in accordance with Section 11(n) hereof). In lieu of such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole Right. For the purposes of this Section 14(a), the current market value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would have been otherwise issuable. The closing price for any day shall be (W) 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 by (1) the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, or (2) if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, 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 (X) 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, as reported by any market or quotation system operated by Nasdaq, or (Y) if prices for the Rights are not reported by any such market or quotation system, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Rights and selected by the Board of Directors, or (Z) if no such market maker is making a market in the Rights, the fair value of the Rights on such date as deter mined in good faith by the Board of Directors. (b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock). Interests in fractions of Preferred Stock in integral multiples of one one-hundredth 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, 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 one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of Right Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of one share of Preferred Stock. For the purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market value of a share of Preferred Stock shall be the closing price of a share of Preferred Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise. (c) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of Common Stock or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of Common Stock upon the exercise or exchange of Rights. In lieu of such fractional shares of Common Stock, the Company shall pay to Page 22 26 the registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional shares of Common Stock would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole share of Common Stock (as determined in accordance with Section 14(a) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise or exchange. (d) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right expressly waives his right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional shares upon exercise of a Right (except as 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 Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the Common Stock); and any registered holder of any Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), on his own behalf and for his own benefit, may enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, such Common Stock) in the manner provided in such Right Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement and will be entitled to specific performance of the obligations under, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations of, the obligations of any Person subject to this Agreement. SECTION 16. AGREEMENT OF RIGHT HOLDERS. Every holder of a Right, by accepting the same, consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and with every other holder of a Right that: (a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of the Common Stock; (b) after the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates are transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at the office or agency of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer; and (c) the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the Person in whose name the Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the 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 Right Certificates or the 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. Page 23 27 SECTION 17. RIGHT CERTIFICATE HOLDER NOT DEEMED A STOCKHOLDER. No holder, as such, of any Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred Stock or any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any Right Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Right Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in this Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the provisions hereof. SECTION 18. CONCERNING THE RIGHTS AGENT. (a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and other disbursements incurred in the preparation, execution, delivery, amendment and administration of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability damage, judgment, fine, penalty, claim, demand, settlement, cost or expense, incurred without gross negligence, bad faith 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 acceptance and administration of this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending against any claim of liability arising therefrom, directly or indirectly. The indemnity provided for herein shall survive the expiration of the Rights and the termination of this Agreement. (b) The Rights Agent shall be authorized and protected and shall incur no liability for, or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection with, its acceptance and administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any Right Certificate or certificate for the Preferred Stock or 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. (c) Anything to the contrary notwithstanding, in no event shall the Rights Agent be liable for special, indirect, consequential or incidental loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even if the Rights Agent has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage. Page 24 28 SECTION 19. MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OR CHANGE OF NAME OF RIGHTS AGENT. (a) Any Person into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to the shareholder services 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 Person 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 Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Right Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Rights Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Right Certificates and in this Agreement. (b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed and at such time any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name and deliver Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Right Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name and in all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Right Certificates and in this Agreement. SECTION 20. DUTIES OF RIGHTS AGENT. The Rights Agent undertakes only the duties and obligations expressly imposed by this Agreement (and no implied duties or obligations) upon the following terms and conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Right Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound: (a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal counsel for the Company), and the advice or opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent and the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or in respect of, any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion. (b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the Rights Agent 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 of Directors, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, the Controller or the Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full authorization and protection to the Page 25 29 Rights Agent and the Rights Agent shall incur no liability in respect of 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, bad faith or wilful 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 Right 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 have any liability for or be under any responsibility in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the validity or execution of any Right Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Right Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any change in the exercisability of the Rights (including the Rights becoming null and 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 Sections 3, 11, 13, 23 and 24 hereof, or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such change or adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Right Certificates after receipt of a certificate furnished pursuant to Section 12 hereof, describing 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 shares of Preferred Stock or other securities to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Right Certificate or as to whether any shares of Preferred Stock or other securities 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 performance of its duties hereunder from any person reasonably believed by the Rights Agent to be one of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President, the Chief Financial Officer or the Secretary of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable for any action taken, 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, suffered or omitted by the Rights Agent under this Agreement and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or suffered or such omission shall be effective. The Rights Agent shall not be liable or responsible for any action taken or suffered 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 Page 26 30 date shall not be less than five Business Days after the date any officer of the Company actually receives such application, unless any such officer shall have consented in writing to an earlier date) unless, prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of an omission), the Rights Agent shall have received written instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken, suffered or omitted. (h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, affiliate, 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 Person or 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 or any other Person resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct, absent gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct in the selection and continued employment thereof. (j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its rights if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. (k) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate contained in the form of assignment or the form of election to purchase set forth on the reverse thereof, as the case may be, has not been completed to certify the holder is not an Acquiring Person (or an Affiliate or Associate thereof), the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such requested exercise or transfer 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 30 days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock by registered or certified mail, and, following the Distribution Date, to the holders of the Right Certificates by first-class mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon 30 days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock by registered or certified mail, and, following the Distribution Date, to the holders of the Right 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 30 days after giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or Page 27 31 incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Right Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Right Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the registered holder of any Right Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be a Person organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or any State thereof, which is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and which has at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million. 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, following the Distribution Date, mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Right Certificates. Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be. SECTION 22. ISSUANCE OF NEW RIGHT CERTIFICATES. Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new Right Certificates evidencing Rights in such forms 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 Right Certificates made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection with the issuance or sale of Common Stock following the Distribution Date and prior to the earlier of the Redemption Date and the Final Expiration Date, the Company may with respect to shares of Common Stock so issued or sold pursuant to (i) the exercise of stock options, (ii) under any employee plan or arrangement, (iii) upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of securities, notes or debentures issued by the Company or (iv) a contractual obligation of the Company in each case existing prior to the Distribution Date, issue Rights Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale. SECTION 23. REDEMPTION. (a) The Board of Directors may, at any time prior to such time as any Person first becomes an Acquiring Person, redeem all but not less than all the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $.01 per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (the redemption price being hereinafter referred to as 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. The Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price in cash, shares of Common Stock (based on Page 28 32 the current market price of the Common Stock at the time of redemption) or any other form of consideration deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors. (b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering the redemption of the Rights pursuant to Section 23(a) hereof (or at such later time as the Board of Directors may establish for the effectiveness of such redemption), and without any further action and without any notice (with prompt written notice thereof to the Rights Agent), 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 10 days after such action of the Board of Directors ordering the redemption of the Rights (or such later time as the Board of Directors may establish for the effectiveness of such redemption), the Company shall mail a notice of redemption to all the holders of the then outstanding Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common 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 shall state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made. SECTION 24. EXCHANGE. (a) The Board of Directors may, at its option, at any time after any Person first becomes an Acquiring Person, exchange all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have not become effective or that have become null and void pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) for shares of Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such amount per Right being hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Ratio"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors shall not be empowered to effect such exchange at any time after any Person (other than an Exempt Person), together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of shares of Common Stock aggregating 50% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding. From and after the occurrence of an event specified in Section 13(a) hereof, any Rights that theretofore have not been exchanged pursuant to this Section 24(a) shall thereafter be exercisable only in accordance with Section 13 hereof and may not be exchanged pursuant to this Section 24(a). The exchange 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 effectiveness of the action of the Board of Directors ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to Section 24(a) hereof and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such Rights shall be to receive that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of such Rights held by such holder multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The Company shall promptly give public notice (with prompt written notice thereof to the Rights Agent) of any such exchange; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity Page 29 33 of such exchange. The Company shall promptly mail a notice of any such exchange to all of the holders of the Rights so exchanged 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 the shares of Common 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 than Rights which have become null and void pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) held by each holder of Rights. (c) The Company may at its option and, in the event that there shall not be sufficient shares of Common Stock issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit an exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with this Section 24, the Company shall substitute to the extent of such insufficiency, for each share of Common Stock that would otherwise be issuable upon exchange of a Right, a number of shares of Preferred Stock or fraction thereof (or Equivalent Preferred Shares as such term is defined in Section 11(b) hereof) such that the Current Per Share Market Price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) of one share of Preferred Stock (or Equivalent Preferred Share) multiplied by such number or fraction is equal to the Current Per Share Market Price of one share of Common Stock (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) as of the date of such exchange). SECTION 25. NOTICE OF CERTAIN EVENTS. (a) In case the Company shall at any time after the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Stock Acquisition Date 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 shares 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 or combination of outstanding Preferred Stock), (iv) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, or (v) to declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in Common Stock or to effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of dividends in Common Stock), then, in each such case, the Company shall give to each holder of a Right Certificate and to the Rights Agent, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the Record Date for the purposes of such stock dividend, or distribution of rights or warrants, or the date on which such liquidation, dissolution or winding up is to take place and the date of participation therein by the holders of the Common Stock and/or Preferred Stock, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least 10 days prior to the Record Date for determining holders of the Preferred Stock for purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at least 10 days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of participation therein by the holders of the Common Stock and/or Preferred Stock, whichever shall be the earlier. Page 30 34 (b) In case any event described in Section 11(a)(ii) or Section 13 hereof shall occur then the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each holder of a Right Certificate (or if occurring prior to the Distribution Date, the holders of the Common Stock) 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) and Section 13 hereof. SECTION 26. NOTICES. Any notice, request, demand or other communication which is required or may be given under this Agreement by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Right Certificate to or on the Company shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (1) if transmitted by telecopy, electronic telephone line facsimile transmission or other similar electronic or digital transmission method, when transmitted; (2) if sent by a nationally recognized next day delivery service that obtains a receipt on delivery, the day after it is sent; (3) if mailed, first class registered or certified United States mail, postage prepaid, five days after it is sent; and (4) in any other case, when actually received. In each case, such notice, request, demand or other communication shall be sent to: Lamalie Associates, Inc. 3903 Northdale Blvd. Tampa, Florida 33624 Attention: Chief Financial Officer or to such other address as the Company may have specified in writing to the Rights Agent using the procedures specified above in this Section. Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, any notice, request, demand or other communication which is required or may be given under this Agreement by the Company or by the holder of any Right Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (1) if transmitted by telecopy, electronic telephone line facsimile transmission or other similar electronic or digital transmission method, when transmitted; (2) if sent by a nationally recognized next day delivery service that obtains a receipt on delivery, the day after it is sent; (3) if mailed, first class registered or certified United States mail, postage prepaid, five days after it is sent; and (4) in any other case, when actually received. In each case, such notice, request, demand or other communication shall be sent to: ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C. 85 Challenger Road Ridgefield Park, New Jersey 07660-2108 Attention: General Counsel or to such other address as the Rights Agent may have specified in writing to the Company using the procedures specified above in this Section. Page 31 35 Any notice, request, demand or other communication which is required or may be given under this Agreement by the Company or the Rights Agent to or on the holder of any Right Certificate shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (1) if transmitted by telecopy, electronic telephone line facsimile transmission or other similar electronic or digital transmission method, when transmitted; (2) if sent by a nationally recognized next day delivery service that obtains a receipt on delivery, the day after it is sent; (3) if mailed, first class registered or certified United States mail, postage prepaid, five days after it is sent; and (4) in any other case, when actually received. In each case, such notice, request, demand or other communication shall be sent to such holder at the address of such holder as shown on the registry books of the Company. SECTION 27. SUPPLEMENTS AND AMENDMENTS; CERTAIN BOARD ACTIONS. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 27, for so long as the Rights are then redeemable, the Company may in its sole and absolute discretion, and the Rights Agent shall if the Company so directs, supplement or amend any provision of this Agreement in any respect without the approval of any holders of the Rights. At any time when the Rights are no longer redeemable, except as otherwise provided in this Section 27, the Company may, and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of Rights Certificates in order to (i) cure any ambiguity, (ii) correct or supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, (iii) shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder, or (iv) change or supplement the provisions hereunder in any manner which the Company may deem necessary or desirable; provided that no such supplement or amendment shall adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights as such (other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person), and no such amendment may cause the rights again to become redeemable or cause the Agreement again to become amendable other than in accordance with this sentence. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, no supplement or amendment shall be made which decreases the Redemption Price. Upon the delivery of a certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company which states that the proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 27 and, if requested by the Rights Agent, an opinion of counsel, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment; provided, however, that, anything to the contrary notwithstanding, the Rights Agent shall not be obligated to enter into any amendment or supplement that change or increases the Rights Agent's duties, liabilities or obligations. (b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, no action by the Board of Directors consenting to, approving, authorizing or directing any (1) supplement, amendment or change to this Agreement, (2) redemption, cancellation, purchase or acquisition of, or payment, exchange, grant, issuance or delivery of any consideration for, any Rights, (3) suspension, cancellation, termination, rescission, revocation or waiver of this Agreement or any provision of this Agreement or (4) any similar action shall be effective unless (a) there are "Disinterested Directors" (as that term is defined below) then in office and (b) such action receives the approval by affirmative vote of a majority of such Disinterested Directors. For the purposes of this paragraph, "Disinterested Director" shall mean a member of the Board of Directors of the Company who is not an Acquiring Person or Section Page 32 36 "3(a)(ii) Person" (as that term is defined below), not an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person or Section 3(a)(ii) Person, and not a representative of an Acquiring Person, of a Section 3(a)(ii) Person or of any such Affiliate or Associate. For the purposes of this paragraph, "Section 3(a)(ii) Person" shall mean a Person who has commenced or participated in the commencement of, or with respect to whom there has been a public announcement of an intention to commence, a tender or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in any Person becoming an Acquiring Person. 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. BENEFITS OF THIS AGREEMENT. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the 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 Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Stock). SECTION 30. DETERMINATIONS AND ACTIONS BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. The Board of Directors shall have the exclusive power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise the rights and powers specifically granted to the Board of Directors or to the Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this Agreement (including, without limitation, a determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to amend this Agreement). All such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the foregoing) that 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, as such, and all other parties, and (y) not subject the Board of Directors to any liability to the holders of the Rights. The Rights Agent is entitled to always assume that the Company's Board of Directors acted in good faith and in compliance with applicable law, the Company's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws as then in effect and this Agreement, and shall be fully protected and incur no liability in reliance thereon. SECTION 31. SEVERABILITY. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement or applicable to this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, 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. Page 33 37 SECTION 32. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement and each Right Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of Florida 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; provided, however, that all provisions regarding the rights, duties and obligations of the Rights Agent shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be preformed 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 for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and attested, all as of the day and year first above written. LAMALIE ASSOCIATES, INC. By: /s/ Philip R. Albright ---------------------------------- CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C. By: /s/ Kathryn M. Gallagher ---------------------------------- Authorized Officer Page 34 38 EXHIBIT A FORM OF ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT OF THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF LAMALIE ASSOCIATES, INC. (Pursuant to Section 607.0602 of the Florida Business Corporation Act) LAMALIE ASSOCIATES, INC., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of State of Florida (this "Corporation"), in order to amend its Articles of Incorporation, in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 607, Florida Statutes, does hereby certify as follows: 1. The name of this Corporation is LAMALIE ASSOCIATES, INC. 2. The amendment effected hereby was duly adopted by the Board of Directors of this Corporation (hereinafter called the "Board of Directors" or the "Board") on September 29, 1998 pursuant to Section 607.0602, Florida Statutes, and pursuant to the authority granted to and vested in the Board in accordance with the provisions of the Company's Articles of Incorporation, as amended to date (hereinafter called the "Articles of Incorporation"). In accordance with such Section and the Articles of Incorporation, such amendment was adopted without approval of the shareholders of this Corporation, which approval was not and is not required, and shall become effective upon filing hereof with the Florida Department of State without shareholder action. 3. The Board of Directors has authorized and does hereby creates a series of Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company and hereby states the designation and number of shares, and fixes the relative rights, powers and preferences thereof, and the limitations thereof, as more particularly set forth below. 4. The Articles of Incorporation are hereby amended by adding to the end of Section 1(b) of Article IV, after the end of Section 1(b)(ii), a new Section 1(b)(iii) as follows: * * * (iii) Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock. Of the 3,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock authorized by these Articles of Incorporation, a series of 500,000 of such shares shall be and are authorized and designated as follows: (a) 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 500,000. Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Exhibit A-1 39 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 Company convertible into Series A Preferred Stock. (b) Dividends and Distributions. (1) Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of any series of Preferred Stock of the Company (the "Preferred Stock") (or any similar stock) ranking prior and superior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock") and of any other stock of the Company ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the last day of January, April, July, and October in each year (each such date being referred to herein as a "Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the first Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $1.00 or (b) subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 100 times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 100 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, declared on the Common Stock since the immediately preceding Dividend Payment Date or, with respect to the first Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock. In the event the Company shall at any time after November 16, 1998 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. (2) The Company shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2(a) immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock); provided that, in the event no dividend or distribution shall Exhibit A-2 40 have been declared on the Common Stock during the period between any Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $1.00 per share on the Series A Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable, when, as and if declared, on such subsequent Dividend Payment Date. (3) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative, whether or not earned or declared, on outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock from the Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares, unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the Record Date for the first Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a 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 Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from such 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. (c) Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights; (1) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth and except as otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation or required by law, each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to 100 votes on all matters upon which the holders of the Common Stock of the Company are entitled to vote. In the event the Company shall at any time after November 16, 1998 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. Exhibit A-3 41 (2) Except as otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation, as hereby or otherwise hereafter amended, and except as otherwise required 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 Company having general voting rights shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Company. (3) 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. (d) Certain Restrictions. (1) 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 earned or declared, on shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Company shall not: a. declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, on any shares of stock ranking junior (as to dividends) to the Series A Preferred Stock; b. declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (as to dividends) with the Series A Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the 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; c. 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 Company may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such junior stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Company ranking junior (as to dividends and upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock or rights, warrants or options to acquire such junior stock; d. redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of Series A Preferred Stock, or 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 in accordance with a purchase offer made in Exhibit A-4 42 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. (2) The Company shall not permit any Subsidiary of the Company to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the Company unless the Company could, under Section 4(a), purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner. (e) Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and cancelled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such shares shall upon their retirement become authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, subject to any conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein. (f) Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, no distribution shall be made (A) to the holders of the Common Stock or of shares of any other stock of the Company ranking junior, 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 $100 per share, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not earned or 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 100 times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to holders of shares of Common Stock, or (B) to the holders of shares of stock ranking on a parity 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, however, that there are not sufficient assets available to permit payment in full of the Series A liquidation preference and the liquidation preferences of all other classes and series of stock of the Company, if any, that rank on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock in respect thereof, then the assets available for such distribution shall be distributed ratably to the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of such parity shares in the proportion to their respective liquidation preferences. In the event the Company shall at any time after November 16, 1998 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 Exhibit A-5 43 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 (A) 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. (g) Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case the Company shall enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the shares of Common Stock are converted into, 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 converted into, exchanged for or changed into an amount per share (subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal to 100 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 converted, exchanged or converted. In the event the Company shall at any time after November 16, 1998 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 conversion, 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. (h) No Redemption. The shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable from any holder. (i) Rank. The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank, with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, junior to all other series of Preferred Stock and senior to the Common Stock. (j) Amendment. If any proposed amendment to the Articles of Incorporation (including as amended by these Articles of Amendment) would alter, change or repeal any of the preferences, powers or special rights given to the Series A Preferred Stock so as to affect the Series A Preferred Stock adversely, then the Exhibit A-6 44 holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to vote separately as a class upon such amendment, and the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class, shall be necessary for the adoption thereof, in addition to such other vote as may be required by the laws of the State of Florida. (k) Fractional Shares. Series A Preferred Stock may be issued in fractions of a share that shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such holder's fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends, participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all other rights of holders of Series A Preferred Stock. * * * IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Chief Executive Officer of this Corporation has executed these Articles of Amendment of the Articles of Incorporation of Lamalie Associates, Inc. this 6th day of November, 1998. LAMALIE ASSOCIATES, INC. By: ---------------------------------- Exhibit A-7 45 EXHIBIT B FORM OF RIGHT CERTIFICATE Certificate No. R- Rights ------- ------- NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER NOVEMBER 15, 2008, OR EARLIER IF REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE OCCURS. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT $.01 PER RIGHT AND TO EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT (THE "RIGHTS AGREEMENT"). UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS OWNED BY OR TRANSFERRED TO ANY PERSON WHO BECOMES AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND CERTAIN TRANSFEREES THEREOF WILL BECOME NULL AND VOID AND WILL NO LONGER BE TRANSFERABLE. Right Certificate LAMALIE ASSOCIATES, 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 Stockholder Rights Agreement, dated as of November 6, 1998 as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Rights Agreement"), between Lamalie Associates, Inc., a Florida corporation (the "Company"), and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., a New Jersey limited liability company (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company at any time after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior to 5:00 P.M., Tampa, Florida time, on November 15, 2008 at the office or agency of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or of its successor as Rights Agent, one one-hundredth of a fully paid non-assessable share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock"), of the Company, at a purchase price of $50 per one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this Right Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase duly executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number of one one-hundredths of a share of 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 November 16, 1998 based on the Preferred Stock as constituted at such date. As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price, the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock (or other securities or property) which may be purchased upon the exercise of the Rights and the number of Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events. This Right Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Right Certificates. Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices of the Company and the above-mentioned office or agency of the Rights Exhibit B-1 46 Agent. The Company will mail to the holder of this Right Certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement without charge after receipt of a written request therefor. This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, upon surrender at the office or agency of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, may be exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate number of shares of Preferred Stock as the Rights evidenced by the Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase. If this Right Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Right Certificate or Right Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised. Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by this Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Company at a redemption price of $.01 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged in whole or in part for shares of Preferred Stock or shares of the Company's Common Stock, par value $.01 per share. No fractional shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock will be issued upon the exercise or exchange of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions of Preferred Stock which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of 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 Right Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred Stock or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the exercise or exchange hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement) or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Right certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement. This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent. Exhibit B-2 47 WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and its corporate seal. Dated as of _____________________. ATTEST: LAMALIE ASSOCIATES, INC. By: By: ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------- Countersigned: CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C. By: ----------------------------------- Authorized Representative Exhibit B-3 48 FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF RIGHT CERTIFICATE FORM OF ASSIGNMENT (To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires to transfer the Right Certificate) FOR VALUE RECEIVED ____________________________ hereby sells, assigns and transfer unto ----------------------------------------------------------- (Please print name and address of transferee) Rights represented by this Right Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ________________________ Attorney, to transfer said Rights on the books of the within-named Company, with full power of substitution. Dated: ----------------------------------- - ----------------------------------- Signature Signature Guaranteed: Signatures must be guaranteed by a bank, trust company, broker, dealer or other eligible institution participating in a recognized signature guarantee medallion program =============================================================================== (To be completed) The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are not Beneficially Owned by, were not acquired by the undersigned from, and are not being assigned to, an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement). - ----------------------------------- Signature =============================================================================== Exhibit B-4 49 FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE (To be executed if holder desires to exercise Rights represented by the Rights Certificate) To Lamalie Associates, Inc.: The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ____________________ Rights represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the shares of Preferred Stock (or other securities or property) issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that certificates for such shares of Preferred Stock (or such other securities) be issued in the name of: ----------------------------------------------------------- (Please print name and address) If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate, a new Right Certificate for the balance remaining of such Rights shall be registered in the name of and delivery to: ----------------------------------------------------------- (Please print name and address) Please insert social security or other identifying number: ------------------------------ Dated: ----------------------------------- - ----------------------------------- Signature (Signature must conform to holder's name as specified on Right Certificate) Signature Guaranteed: Signature must be guaranteed by bank, trust company, broker, dealer or other eligible institution participating in a recognized signature guarantee medallion program. Exhibit B-5 50 =============================================================================== (To be completed) The undersigned certifies that the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are not Beneficially Owned by, and were not acquired by the undersigned from, an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement). - ----------------------------------- Signature =============================================================================== NOTICE ------ The signature in the Form of Assignment or Form of Election to Purchase, as the case may be, must conform to the name as written upon the face of this Right Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever. In the event the certification set forth above in the Form of Assignment or the Form of Election to Purchase, as the case may be, is not completed, such Assignment or Election to Purchase will not be honored. Exhibit B-6 51 EXHIBIT C SUMMARY OF STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AS SET FORTH IN THE STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS OWNED BY OR TRANSFERRED TO ANY PERSON WHO BECOMES AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS DEFINED IN THE STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND CERTAIN TRANSFEREES THEREOF WILL BECOME NULL AND VOID AND WILL NO LONGER BE TRANSFERABLE. Under and pursuant to the Stockholder Rights Agreement, the Company, by action of the Board, has created certain preferred stock purchase rights (the "Rights"). Each Right entitles the registered holder thereof to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock") of the Company at a price of $50 per one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock (the "Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment. The Board of Directors of the Company has declared a dividend of one Right for each outstanding share of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock") payable on November 16, 1998 (the "Record Date") to the stockholders of record on that date. The Stockholder Rights Agreement is designed to protect stockholders of the Company in the event of unsolicited offers to acquire the Company and other coercive takeover tactics which, in the opinion of the Board, could impair its ability to represent stockholder interests. The provisions of the Stockholder Rights Agreement may render an unsolicited takeover of the Company more difficult or less likely to occur or might prevent such a takeover, even though such takeover may offer the Company's stockholders the opportunity to sell their stock at a price above the prevailing market rate and may be favored by a majority of the stockholders of the Company. Under the Stockholder Rights Agreement, until the earlier to occur of (i) 10 days following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (with certain exceptions, an Acquiring Person) has acquired beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding shares of 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 or group of affiliated persons 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 20% or more of the outstanding shares of 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 together with a copy of a Summary of Stockholder Rights Agreement in the form attached to the Stockholder Rights Agreement (the "Summary of Stockholder Rights Agreement"). The Stockholder Rights Agreement generally excludes from the definition of Acquiring Person a person who inadvertently becomes an Acquiring Person but who promptly takes action to no longer beneficially own 20% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding. Certain acquisitions pursuant to dividends, distributions, stock splits or other transactions are disregarded in determining whether a person is an Acquiring Person. The Stockholder Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be transferred with and only with the 52 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 issuances of Common Stock will contain a notation incorporating the Stockholder Rights Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any certificates for shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, even without such notation or a copy of the Summary of Stockholder Rights Agreement, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the shares of Common Stock represented by such certificate. As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights (the "Right 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 Right Certificates alone will evidence the Rights. The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights will expire on November 15, 2008 (the "Final Expiration Date"), unless the Final Expiration Date is advanced or 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 shares 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 Preferred Stock of certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Stock at a price, or securities convertible into Preferred Stock with a conversion price, less than the then-current market price of the Preferred Stock or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends or dividends payable in Preferred Stock) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above). The number of outstanding Rights also is subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split of the Common Stock or a stock dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock or subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of the Common Stock occurring, in any such case, prior to the Distribution Date. Shares of Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be redeemable. Each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled, when, as and if declared, to a minimum preferential quarterly dividend payment of $1 per share but will be entitled to an aggregate dividend of 100 times the dividend declared per share of Common Stock. In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of the Preferred Stock will be entitled to a minimum preferential liquidation payment of $100 per share (plus any accrued but unpaid dividends) but will be entitled to an aggregate payment of 100 times the payment made per share of Common Stock. Each share of Preferred Stock will have 100 votes, voting together with the Common Stock. Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which shares of Common Stock are converted Exhibit C-2 53 or exchanged, each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive 100 times the amount received per share of Common Stock. These rights are protected by customary antidilution provisions. Because of the nature of the Preferred Stock's dividend, liquidation and voting rights, the value of the one one-hundredth interest in a share of Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the value of one share of Common Stock at or about the time of the Final Expiration Date. In the event that any person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right, other than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which will thereupon become null and void), will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise of a Right at the then current exercise price of the Right, that number of shares of Common Stock having a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right (a "flip in"). In the event that, after a person or group has become an Acquiring Person, the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning power are sold, proper provision will be made so that each holder of a Right (other than Rights beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person, which will have become null and void) will thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current exercise price of the Right, that number of shares of common stock of the person with whom the Company has engaged in the foregoing transaction (or its parent), which number of shares at the time of such transaction will have a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right (a "flip over"). At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or the occurrence of an event described in the prior paragraph, the Board of Directors may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group which will have become null and void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock, or one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock (or of a share of a class or series of the Company's preferred stock having equivalent rights, preferences and privileges), per Right (subject to adjustment). 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-hundredth 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 Preferred Stock on the last trading day prior to the date of exercise. At any time prior to the time an Acquiring Person becomes such, the Board of Directors may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.01 per Right (the "Redemption Price"). Exhibit C-3 54 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. For so long as the Rights are then redeemable, the Company may, except with respect to the Redemption Price, amend the Rights in any manner. After the Rights are no longer redeemable, the Company may, except with respect to the Redemption Price, amend the Rights in any manner that does not adversely affect the interests of 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. A copy of the Stockholder Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated November 6, 1998, as amended. A copy of the Stockholder Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the Company. The foregoing summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete Stockholder Rights Agreement, as the same may be amended from time to time, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Exhibit C-4 EX-2 3 PRESS RELEASE 1 EXHIBIT 2 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE --------------------- CONTACT: PHILIP R. ALBRIGHT AT (813) 961-7494 OR JANEY LOYD AT (203) 324-4445 LAI WARD HOWELL ADOPTS STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT NEW YORK, November 6, 1998: LAI Ward Howell (Nasdaq: LAIX) today announced that its Board of Directors has adopted a stockholder rights plan and declared a dividend of one preferred stock purchase right (a "Right") for each outstanding share of common stock of the Company. "We believe this plan is a prudent step in protecting the long-term interests of LAI Ward Howell stockholders," said Robert L. Pearson, Chairman and CEO. "Similar to plans adopted by many U.S. public companies, this plan does not prevent a takeover; however, it does seek to ensure that all stockholders will receive fair and equitable treatment in the event of an unsolicited attempt to acquire the Company. The adoption of this plan is not in response to any pending takeover threat. It is merely a precaution taken to guard against partial tender offers, open market accumulations and other abusive tactics pursuant to which a third party might gain control of the Company without providing adequate value to our stockholders." The issuance of the Rights does not in any way affect the Company's business plans. The issuance of the Rights has no dilutive effect on the number of common shares outstanding, will not affect reported earnings per share and will not change the manner in which LAI Ward Howell common stock is currently traded. Under terms of the plan, the non-taxable dividend distribution of the Rights will be made on November 16, 1998 to the Company's stockholders of record on that date. The Rights generally will become exercisable only if a person or group of persons acquires 20% or more of the Company's common stock or announces a tender offer, the consummation of which would result in ownership by a person or group of persons of 20% or more of the Company's common stock. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth of a share of the Company's Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Stock"), par value $.01 per share, at a price of $50 per one one-hundredth of a share, subject to adjustment. The Preferred Stock is a new series of stock authorized in connection with the adoption of the stockholder rights plan. In addition, if, after the Rights become exercisable, the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction, or sells 50% or more of its assets or earnings power, each Right will entitle its holder to purchase, at the Right's then current exercise price, a number of the acquiring company's common shares having a market value of twice the Right's exercise price. Initially, the Company will not issue certificates representing the Rights. Instead, the 2 Rights will trade with and as part of the Company's common stock until such time, if ever, the Rights become exercisable upon certain triggering events. The plan also includes an exchange option. Generally, after the Rights become exercisable, the Board of Directors may, at its option, exchange part or all of the Rights for shares of the Company's common stock. Under this option, the Company would issue one share of common stock for each outstanding Right. This exchange would not apply to shares held by the person or group whose actions trigger the exercisability of the Rights. Also, at the option of the Board of Directors, the Company may redeem all Rights for $.01 per Right at any time prior to the time the Rights become exercisable. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Stockholder Rights Agreement dated as of November 6, 1998 between the Company and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C. as Rights Agent. The Rights are scheduled to expire on November 15, 2008, unless earlier redeemed, exchanged or amended by the Board of Directors. COMPANY BACKGROUND LAI Ward Howell is one of the largest and fastest growing providers of executive recruiting services, offering its services exclusively on a retained basis. To help its clients meet the demands of a changing workforce in the markets it serves, LAI Ward Howell identifies, evaluates and recommends qualified candidates for senior executive positions primarily at Fortune 500 and large private companies. LAI Ward Howell has 125 executive search consultants located in one international and 17 domestic offices. This news release contains certain forward-looking statements that are based on the current beliefs and expectations of the Company's management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the Company's management. Such statements include those regarding general economic and executive search industry trends, and the Company's ability to successfully execute its operational and growth strategies. Because such statements involve risks and uncertainties, actual actions and strategies and the timing and expected results thereof may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, and the Company's future results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, any such forward-looking statements. In addition to the factors noted above, other risks, uncertainties, assumptions and factors that could affect the Company's financial results are described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A, filed with the SEC on June 12, 1998 and in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter ended May 31, 1998, as filed with the SEC on July 15, 1998. EX-3 4 FORM OF LETTER TO STOCKHOLDERS 1 EXHIBIT 3 [COMPANY LETTERHEAD] November 16, 1998 To Our Stockholders: Our Board of Directors has approved the adoption of a stockholder rights plan that is intended to protect your interests in the event LAI Ward Howell is confronted with coercive takeover tactics. This letter provides you with a description of the plan and our reasons for adopting it. The plan is being implemented through a Stockholder Rights Agreement, the terms of which are briefly described in the Summary of Stockholder Rights Agreement attached to this letter. We urge you to read the summary carefully. This letter is for informational purposes only, and no action is required of you at this time. Similar to plans adopted by many U.S. public companies, the plan is designed to ensure that all of the Company's stockholders receive fair and equal treatment in the event of any proposal to acquire the Company. It also is intended to help protect the interests of our stockholders in the event of an unsolicited attempt to acquire the Company or abusive or unfair takeover tactics, including a gradual accumulation of shares in the open market, a partial, two-tier or inadequate tender offer that does not treat all stockholders equally, a squeeze-out merger and other abusive or unfair tactics that the Board believes are not in the best long-term interests of the stockholders. These tactics unfairly pressure stockholders, squeeze them out of their investment without giving them any real choice and deprive them of the full value of their Common Stock. We consider the stockholder rights plan to be a valuable means of protecting both your right to retain your equity investment in the Company and the full value of that investment, while not foreclosing a fair acquisition bid for the Company. The adoption of this plan is not in response to any pending takeover or proposed change in control of the company. It is not intended to prevent a takeover of the Company and will not do so. This plan is merely a precaution taken to protect the rights of our stockholders and has been adopted in order to strengthen the ability of the Board to protect your interests. Adoption of the plan should not by itself affect any prospective acquirer who is willing to make an all-cash offer at a full and fair price or who is willing to negotiate with the Board of Directors, and certainly will not interfere with a merger or other business combination transaction approved by the Board. The effect of the plan is to encourage a prospective acquirer to negotiate with the Board a transaction that is fair to all stockholders. The plan provides for a dividend distribution of one preferred stock purchase right (a "Right") for each outstanding share of Common Stock. Effective as of the close of business November 16, 1998, the Rights are automatically attached to all shares of the Company's Common Stock, and you are now the owner of one Right for each share of Common Stock that you own. However, no action by you is required or permitted at this time with respect to the Rights, and no money should be sent to the Company. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company 1/100 of a share of the Company's Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock 2 (the "Preferred Stock") at a price of $50 per 1/100 of a share, subject to adjustment. The Preferred Stock is a new series of stock authorized in connection with the adoption of the stockholder rights plan. The Rights are not currently exercisable and have no current value. Therefore, certificates representing the Rights will not be issued at this time. Instead, the Rights will trade with and be represented by your Common Stock certificates. The Rights automatically attach to all outstanding shares of Common Stock and trade with those shares and will continue to automatically attach to all shares of Common Stock issued in the future. If the Rights become exercisable, they will entitle all stockholders -- except the takeover bidder -- to purchase stock in the Company at a discounted price. However, Rights held by persons who own 20% or more of the Company's outstanding Common Stock will be void. Under certain circumstances, the Rights will entitle the holder to buy shares in an acquiring entity at a discounted price. The Rights generally will become exercisable only if a person or group of persons acquires 20% or more of the Company's Common Stock or announces a tender offer, the consummation of which would result in ownership by a person or group of persons of 20% or more of the Company's Common Stock. If the Rights become exercisable, separate certificates representing the Rights will be sent to all stockholders. After the Rights become exercisable, the Board of Directors may, at its option, effect an exchange of part or all of the Rights, other than Rights that have become void, for shares of the Company's Common Stock for each Right, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. In addition, the Company's Board of Directors may elect to redeem all Rights for $.01 per Right, generally at any time prior to the Rights becoming exercisable. The Rights will expire November 15, 2008, unless earlier redeemed, exchanged or amended by the Board of Directors. The issuance of the Rights does not in any way weaken the financial strength of the Company or interfere with its business plans. The issuance of the Rights has no dilutive effect and will not affect the Company's reported financial condition or results of operations, including earnings per share. The plan should not interfere with the Company's operating, financing or investing activities and will not change the way in which the Company's Common Stock currently is traded. The issuance of the Rights is not taxable to the Company or to you, although stockholders may, under certain circumstances, recognize taxable income if the Rights become exercisable. A summary of the plan explaining the terms and nature of the Rights is enclosed. We urge you to review the summary and retain it with your permanent records. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Robert L. Pearson Chairman and Chief Executive Officer -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----