EX-4 5 exhibit41.txt EXHIBIT 4.1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RIGHTS AGREEMENT between GERMAN AMERICAN BANCORP and UMB BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION as Rights Agent Dated as of April 27, 2000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INDEX Page Section 1. Certain Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Section 3. Issuance of Right Certificates. . . . . . . . . . . 4 Section 4. Form of Right Certificates. . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Section 5. Countersignature and Registration . . . . . . . . . 6 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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Section 9. Availability of Capital Stock . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Section 10. Record Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or Number of Rights. . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power. . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares . . . . . . 18 Section 15. Rights of Action. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders. . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates. . . . . . . . . 23 Section 23. Redemption. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Section 24. Exchange. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Section 25. Notice of Certain Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Section 26. Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Section 28. Successors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement. . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Section 30. Severability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Section 31. Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Section 32. Counterparts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Section 33. Descriptive Headings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 RIGHTS AGREEMENT This Agreement is made and entered into as of April 27, 2000, between German American Bancorp, an Indiana corporation (the "Company"), and UMB Bank, National Association, a national banking association, as rights agent (the "Rights Agent"). RECITALS The Board of Directors of the Company has authorized and declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a "Right") for each Common Share (as hereinafter defined) of the Company outstanding as of the Close of Business on May 10, 2000 (the "Record Date"), each Right representing the right to purchase one one-hundredth (.01) of a Series A Preferred Share of the Company (a "Preferred Share Unit"), upon the terms and subject to the conditions herein set forth, and has further authorized and directed the issuance of one Right with respect to each Common Share that shall become outstanding between the Record Date and the earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date and the Final Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter defined). The Rights Agent has agreed to accept its appointment as such, and to carry out the duties imposed on it hereunder. In consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows: Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings indicated: (a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (as such term is hereinafter defined) who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates (as such terms are hereinafter defined) of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner (as such term is hereinafter defined) of 15% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding, but shall not include the Company, any Subsidiary (as such term is hereinafter defined) of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, or any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person shall become an "Acquiring Person" as the result of an acquisition of Common Shares by the Company that, by reducing the number of shares outstanding, increases the proportionate number of shares beneficially owned by such Person to 15% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding; provided, however, that if a person shall become the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding by reason of share purchases by the Company and shall, after such share purchases by the Company, become the Beneficial Owner of any additional Common Shares of the Company, then such Person shall be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person". (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 Exchange Act (as such term is hereinafter defined). (c) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of and shall be deemed to "Beneficially Own" any securities: (i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly; (ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates has (A) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (other than customary agreements with and between underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide public offering of securities), or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights (other than these Rights), warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially Own, securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by or on behalf of such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange; or (B) the right to vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided however, that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially Own, any security if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such security (1) arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and (2) is not also then reportable on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report); or (iii) which are Beneficially Owned, directly or indirectly, by any other Person with which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding (other than customary agreements with and between underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide public offering of securities) for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except to the extent contemplated by the proviso to Section 1(c)(ii)(B)) or disposing of any securities of the Company. Notwithstanding anything in this definition of Beneficial Ownership to the contrary, the phrase "then outstanding," when used with reference to a Person's Beneficial Ownership of securities of the Company, shall mean the number of such securities then issued and outstanding together with the number of such securities not then actually issued and outstanding which such Person would be deemed to Beneficially Own hereunder. (d) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, or a day on which banking institutions in the State of Indiana or State of Missouri are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close. 2 (e) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M., Eastern Standard Time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., Eastern Standard Time, on the next succeeding Business Day. (f) "Common Shares" when used with reference to the Company shall mean the shares of the Company designated in its Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation as "Common Shares." "Common Shares" when used with reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean the capital stock or other equity interest with the greatest voting power of such other Person or, if such other Person is a Subsidiary of another Person, the Person or Persons which ultimately control such first-mentioned Person. (g) "Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereof. (h) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3 hereof. (i) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. (j) "Exchange Date" shall mean the time at which such Rights are exchanged as provided in Section 24 hereof. (k) "Exchange Ratio" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 24(a) hereof. (l) "Final Expiration Date" shall mean the Close of Business on April 26, 2010. (m) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation or other entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity. (n) "Preferred Share Unit" shall mean one one-hundredth (.01) of a Preferred Share of the Company. (o) "Preferred Shares" shall mean the shares of the Company designated in the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, as "Series A Preferred Shares". (p) "Purchase Price" shall initially be $75.00 for each Preferred Share Unit purchasable pursuant to the exercise of a Right, and shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Section 11 and 13 hereof and shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of America in accordance with Section 7(c). (q) "Record Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the second paragraph hereof. (r) "Redemption Date" shall mean the time at which the Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof. 3 (s) "Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 23 hereof. (t) "Right" shall have the meaning set forth in the second paragraph hereof. (u) "Right Certificate" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) hereof. (v) "Rights Agent" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereof. (w) "Rights Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(c) hereof. (x) "Security" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(d) hereof. (y) "Shares Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public announcement by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such or such earlier date as a majority of the Directors shall become aware of the existence of an Acquiring Person. (z) "Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any corporation or other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities or other equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person. (aa) "Trading Day" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(d) hereof. Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the Rights (who, in accordance with Section 3 hereof, shall prior to the Distribution Date also be the holders of the Common Shares) in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company may from time to time appoint such co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or desirable. Section 3. Issuance of Right Certificates. (a) Until the earlier of (a) the tenth business day after the Shares Acquisition Date or (b) 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 the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company or any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) of, or of the first public announcement of the intention of any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company or any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) to commence, a tender or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in any person becoming the Beneficial Owner 4 of Common Shares aggregating 30% or more of the then outstanding Common Shares, 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"), (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the certificates for Common Shares registered in the names of the holders thereof (which certificates shall also be deemed to be Right Certificates) and not by separate Right Certificates, and (ii) the Rights Certificates will not be transferable except as a part of the transfer of certificates for Common Shares, and 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 Shares outstanding on the Record Date, with or without a copy of the Summary of Rights attached thereto, shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented thereby. 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, send) by first-class, insured, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common Shares as of the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company, a separate Right Certificate, in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto (a "Right Certificate"), evidencing one Right for each Common Share so held. Following the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Right Certificates. (b) The Company will make available, as promptly as practicable following the Record Date, a Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares, in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto, to any holder of Rights from time to time prior to the Expiration Date upon the request of the holders. (c) Certificates for Common Shares issued after the Record Date but prior to the earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration Date (whether as an original issuance of Common Shares or as a transfer or re-registration of outstanding Common Shares) shall have impressed on, printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them the following legend: THIS CERTIFICATE ALSO EVIDENCES AND ENTITLES THE HOLDER HEREOF TO CERTAIN RIGHTS AS SET FORTH IN A RIGHTS AGREEMENT BETWEEN GERMAN AMERICAN BANCORP AND THE RIGHTS AGENT THEREUNDER (THE "RIGHTS AGREEMENT"), THE TERMS OF WHICH ARE HEREBY INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE AND A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF GERMAN AMERICAN BANCORP. 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. GERMAN AMERICAN BANCORP WILL MAIL TO THE HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE A COPY OF THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT WITHOUT CHARGE AFTER RECEIPT OF A WRITTEN REQUEST THEREFOR. AS DESCRIBED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS ISSUED TO ANY PERSON WHO BECOMES AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) SHALL BECOME NULL AND VOID. 5 (d) In the event that the Company purchases or acquires any Common Shares after the Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such Common Shares shall be deemed cancelled and retired so that the Company shall not be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with the Common Shares which are no longer outstanding. Section 4. Form of Right Certificates. The Right Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase shares and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall be substantially the same as Exhibit A hereto and may, have such marks of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or any stock exchange on which the Rights may from time to time be listed or 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 Preferred Share Units as shall be set forth therein at the price per Preferred Share Unit set forth therein (the "Purchase Price"), but the amount and type of securities purchasable upon the exercise of each Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein. Section 5. Countersignature and Registration. (a) The Right Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its President, or any of its Vice Presidents, 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 any 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 Rights Agreement any such person was not such an officer. (b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or cause to be kept, at its principal office or such other office 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. 6 Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates. (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof, at any time after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and at or prior to the Close of Business on the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration Date, any Right Certificate or Right Certificates (other than Right Certificates representing Rights that have become void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof or that have been exchanged pursuant to Section 24 hereof) may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates entitling the registered holder to purchase a like number of Preferred Share Units (or other securities, as the case may be) as the Right Certificate or Right Certificates by the surrender of the Right Certificate or Right Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, duly endorsed with signature guaranteed as provided for in the form of Right Certificate, and with the Certificate as to beneficial ownership duly executed by the registered holder. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto a Right Certificate or Right Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The Company or the Rights Agent may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Right Certificates. (b) Upon receipt by the Rights Agent of evidence reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Right Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security of the Company and the Rights Agent reasonably satisfactory to the Rights Agent, and, at the Company's request, reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Right Certificate if mutilated, the Rights Agent will make and deliver a new Right Certificate of like tenor for delivery to the registered holder in lieu of the Right Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated. Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights. (a) The registered holder of any Right Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided herein) in whole or in part at any time after the Distribution Date upon surrender of the Right Certificate, with the form of election to purchase on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, together with payment of the Purchase Price for each Preferred Share Unit (or other securities, as the case may be) as to which the Rights are exercised, at or prior to the earliest of (a) the Final Expiration Date, (b) the Redemption Date, or (c) the Exchange Date. (b) The Purchase Price for each Preferred Share Unit (or other securities, as the case may be) pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be $75.00, 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) below. 7 (c) Upon receipt of a Right Certificate representing exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase duly executed, accompanied by payment of the Purchase Price for the shares to be purchased and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax required to be paid by the holder of such Right Certificate in accordance with Section 9 hereof by certified check, cashier's check or money order payable to the order of the Company, the Rights Agent shall thereupon promptly (a) (i) requisition from any transfer agent of the Preferred Shares certificates for the total number of Preferred Share Units to be purchased (and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with all such requests), or (ii) requisition from the Company's depositary agent, if any, depositary receipts representing such number of Preferred Share Units as are to be purchased, in which case certificates for the Preferred Shares represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent with the depositary agent (and the Company hereby directs its depositary agent to comply with such request), (b) 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, (c) 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 (d) when appropriate, after receipt, promptly deliver such cash to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate. (d) In case the registered holder of any Right Certificate shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Right Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent to the registered holder of such Right Certificate or to his duly authorized assigns, subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof. (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 upon the occurrence of any purported exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless such registered holder shall have completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of election to purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate surrendered for such exercise; and provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates 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 Rights Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and retire, any other Right Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall destroy such cancelled Right Certificates in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, and in such case shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company. 8 Section 9. Availability of Capital Stock. (a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued Preferred Shares or any authorized and issued Preferred Shares held in its treasury, the number of Preferred Shares that will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights in accordance with Section 7, and shall, to the extent reasonably practicable, so reserve and keep available a sufficient number of Common Shares (and/or other securities which may be required to permit the exercise in full of the Rights) pursuant to the Agreement. The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action as may be necessary to ensure that all securities delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for such securities (subject to payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and nonassessable. (b) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges which may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Right Certificates or of any Preferred Shares (or Common Shares and/or other securities, as the case may be) upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any transfer tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of Right Certificates to a Person other than, or the issuance or delivery of certificates or depositary receipts for the Preferred Shares (or Common Shares and/or other securities, as the case may be) in a name other than that of, the registered holder of the Right Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or to deliver any certificates or depositary receipts for Preferred Shares (or Common Shares and/or other securities, as the case may be) upon the exercise of any Rights until any such tax shall have been paid (any such tax being payable by the holder of such Right Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has been established to the Company's reasonable satisfaction that no such tax is due. (c) The Company covenants and agrees that it will (i) prepare and file, as soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), on an appropriate form with respect to the securities issuable upon exercise of the Rights, (ii) use its best efforts to cause the registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable after filing, and (iii) use its best efforts to cause the registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder) until the earlier of the exercise of all of the Rights and the Expiration Date. The Company will also take all actions required to comply with the state securities laws applicable to the Rights and Preferred Shares (or Common Shares and/or other securities, as the case may be) issuable upon exercise of the Rights. 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 the registration statement. Upon any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement and notice to the Rights Agent stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, and the Company 9 shall issue a public announcement and notice to the Rights Agent when the suspension is no longer in effect. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction in which any requisite registration or qualification has not been obtained or any requisite notice of exemption has not been filed. (d) The Company agrees to provide to the Rights Agent, immediately following the later to occur of an event described in Section 11(a)(i)(B) or Section 13 hereof or the Distribution Date, an opinion of counsel acceptable to the Rights Agent that the Common Stock underlying the Rights have been or are being properly registered under the Securities Act and all securities or "blue sky" laws of the various states, as applicable, or in the alternative, the Rights are not subject to registration under the Securities Act and/or any securities or "blue sky" laws of the various states. Section 10. Record Date. Each person in whose name any certificate for Preferred Shares (or Common Shares and/or other securities as the case may be) is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the Preferred Shares (or Common Shares and/or other securities as the case may be) represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Right Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price (and any applicable transfer taxes) was made; provided however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Preferred Share (or Common Share and/or other securities as the case may be) transfer books of the Company are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such succeeding Business Day on which the Preferred Share (or Common Share and/or other securities as the case may be) transfer books of the Company are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a Right Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a holder of Preferred Shares (or Common Shares and/or other securities as the case may be) for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends or other distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein. Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or Number of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number and kind of shares covered by each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 11. (a) (i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the date of this Agreement (1) declare a dividend on the Preferred Shares payable in Preferred Shares, (2) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Shares, (3) combine the outstanding Preferred Shares into a smaller number of Preferred Shares or (4) issue any securities in a reclassification of the Preferred Shares (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), the Purchase Price in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or of the effective date of such subdivision, combination 10 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 Share transfer books of the Company were open, such holder would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification. The adjustments provided for in this Section 11(a) shall be made successively whenever such a dividend is declared or paid or such a subdivision, combination or consolidation is effected. (ii) In the event (1) any Person alone or together with its Affiliates and Associates shall become an Acquiring Person, or (2) during such time as there is an Acquiring Person, there shall be any reclassification of securities (including any reverse stock split) or recapitalization or reorganization of the Company which has the effect, directly or indirectly of increasing by more than 1% the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class of equity securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof, each holder of a Right shall, for a period of sixty (60) days after the later of the occurrence of any such event or the effective date of the registration statement referred to in Section 9 hereof, have a right to receive, upon exercise thereof at a price equal to the then current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement such number of Common Shares of the Company (or, in the discretion of the Board, Preferred Share Units) as shall equal the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the number of Preferred Share Units 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 Shares (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the date such Person became an Acquiring Person. In the event that any Person shall become an Acquiring Person and the Rights shall then be outstanding, the Company shall not take any action which would eliminate or diminish the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights. From and after the occurrence of the earlier of the events described in clauses (i) and (ii) above, any Rights that are or were acquired or beneficially owned by such Acquiring Person (or any Associate or Affiliate of such Acquiring Person) shall be void and any holder of such Rights shall thereafter have no right to exercise such Rights under any provision of this Agreement. No Right Certificate shall be issued pursuant to Section 3 that represents Rights Beneficially Owned by an Acquiring Person whose Rights would be void pursuant to the preceding sentence or any Associate or Affiliate thereof; no Right Certificate shall be issued at any time upon the transfer of any Rights to an Acquiring Person whose Rights would be void pursuant to the preceding sentence or any Associate or Affiliate thereof or to any nominee of such Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate; and any Right Certificate delivered to the Rights Agent for transfer to an Acquiring Person whose Rights would be void pursuant to the preceding sentence or any Associate or Affiliate thereof shall be cancelled. 11 In case any event described in clauses (i) and (ii) above shall occur, then the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each holder of a Right Certificate, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event which notice shall describe such event and the consequences of such event to holders of Rights under this Section 11 (a)(ii). (iii) If there shall not be sufficient Common Shares issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii), the Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to authorize additional Common Shares for issuance upon exercise of the Rights, including the calling of a meeting of shareholders. If the Company shall, after good faith effort, be unable to take all such action as may be necessary to authorize such additional Common Shares, the Company shall substitute, for each Common Share that would otherwise be issuable upon exercise of a Right, a number of Preferred Share Units (or a security with substantially similar rights, privileges, preferences, voting power and economic rights) such that the current per share market price of one Preferred Share Unit (or such other security) is equal to the current per share market price of one Common Share as of the date of issuance of such Preferred Share Unit (or other security). (b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Shares entitling them (for a period expiring within 45 calendar days after such record date) to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares (or shares having the same rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred Shares ("equivalent preferred shares")) or securities convertible into Preferred Shares or equivalent preferred shares at a price per Preferred Share or equivalent preferred share (or having a conversion price per share, if a security convertible into Preferred Shares or equivalent preferred shares) less than the then current per share market price of the Preferred Shares (as defined in Section 11(d)) on such record date, the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the purchase price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date plus the number of Preferred Shares which the aggregate offering price of the total number of Preferred Shares and/or equivalent preferred shares so to be offered (and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities so to be offered) would purchase at such current market price and the denominator of which shall be the number of Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date plus the number of additional Preferred Shares and/or equivalent preferred shares to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be offered are initially convertible). In case such subscription price may be paid in a consideration part or all of which shall be in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent. Preferred Shares owned by or held for the account of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the event that such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed. 12 (c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the making of a distribution to all holders of the Preferred Shares (including any such distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) of evidences of indebtedness or assets (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend or a dividend payable in Preferred Shares) or subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b) hereof), the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the then current per share market price of the Preferred Shares on such record date, less the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, 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 Preferred Share and the denominator of which shall be such current per share market price of the Preferred Shares; provided, however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of the Company to be issued upon exercise of one Right. Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the event that such distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall again be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed. (d) (i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the "current per share market price" of any security (a "Security" for the purpose of this Section 11(d)(i)) on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of such Security for the 30 consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined) immediately prior to such date; provided, however, that in the event that the current per share market price of the Security is determined during a period following the announcement by the issuer of such Security of (1) a dividend or distribution on such Security payable in shares of such Security or securities convertible into such shares, or (2) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such Security and prior to the expiration of 30 Trading Days after the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or the record date for such subdivision, combination of reclassification, then, and in each such case, the current per share market price shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect the current market price per share equivalent of such Security. The closing price for each day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the Security is listed or admitted to trading or, if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the National 13 Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System ("Nasdaq") or such other system then in use, or, if on any such date the Security is not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Security selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. The term "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the principal national securities exchange on which the Security is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day. (ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the "current per share market price" of the Preferred Shares shall be determined in accordance with the method set forth in Section 11(d)(i). If the Preferred Shares are not publicly traded, the "current per share market price" of the Preferred Shares shall be conclusively deemed to be the current per share market price of the Common Shares as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) (appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof), multiplied by one hundred. If neither the Common Shares nor the Preferred Shares are publicly held or so listed or traded, "current per share market price" shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, 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-hundredth of a Preferred Share or one- hundredth of any other share or security as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e), any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier of (a) three years from the date of the transaction which requires such adjustment or (b) 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 securities of the Company other than Preferred Shares, thereafter the number of such other securities so receivable upon exercise of any Right shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the Preferred Shares contained in Sections 11(a) through 11(c), inclusive, and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10 and 13 with respect to the Preferred Shares shall apply on like terms to any such other securities. (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 Preferred Share Units purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein. 14 (h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as provided in Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a result of the calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c), each Right outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of Preferred Share Units obtained by (a) multiplying (x) the number of Preferred Share Units covered by a Right immediately prior to this adjustment by (y) the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment of the Purchase Price and (b) dividing the product so obtained by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase Price. (i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in substitution for any adjustment in the number of Preferred Share Units 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 Preferred Share Units 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 obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The Company shall make a public announcement of its election to adjust the number of Rights, indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. This record date may be the date on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Right Certificates have been issued, shall be at least 10 days later than the date of the public announcement. If Right Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of Right Certificates on such record date Right Certificates evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement for the Right Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new Right Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such adjustment. Right Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner provided for herein and shall be registered in the names of the holders of record of Right Certificates on the record date specified in the public announcement. (j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or the number of Preferred Share Units 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 Preferred Share Units which were expressed in the initial Right Certificates issued hereunder. (k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing the Purchase Price of the Preferred Shares issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take any corporate action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable Preferred Shares at such adjusted Purchase Price. 15 (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 issuance to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date of the Preferred Share Units, Common Shares or other securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the number of Preferred Share Units, Common Shares or other securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided however, that the Company 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 (i) consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred Shares, (ii) issuance wholly for cash of any Preferred Shares at less than the current market price, (iii) issuance wholly for cash of Preferred Shares or securities which by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for Preferred Shares, or (iv) dividends on Preferred Shares payable in Preferred Shares or issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to hereinabove in Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Preferred Shares 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 Rights Agreement and prior to the Distribution Date, the Company shall (i) declare or pay any dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or (ii) effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common Shares (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of dividends in Common Shares) into a greater or lesser number of Common Shares, then in any such case (A) the number of Preferred Share Units purchasable after such event upon proper exercise of each Right shall be determined by multiplying the number of Preferred Share Units so purchasable immediately prior to such event by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately before such event and the denominator of which is the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately after such event, and (B) each Common Share outstanding immediately after such event shall have issued with respect to it that number of Rights which each Common Share outstanding immediately prior to such event had issued with respect to it. The adjustments provided for in the preceding sentence shall be made successively whenever such a dividend is declared or paid or such a subdivision, combination or consolidation is effected. Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 or 13 hereof, the Company shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment, and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment, (b) file with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Preferred Shares and Common Shares a copy of such certificate and (c) if a Distribution Date has occurred, mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Right Certificate. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on such certificate, shall not be obligated or responsible for calculating any adjustment, and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any adjustment unless and until it shall have received such certificate. 16 Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power. (a) In the event, directly or indirectly, (i) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and into, any other Person, (ii) any Person shall consolidate with the Company, or merge with and into the Company and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of such merger and, in connection with such merger, all or part of the Common Shares shall be changed into or exchanged for securities of any other Person (or the Company) or cash or any other property, or (iii) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer) , in one or more transactions, assets or earning power aggregating 50% or more of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other person other than the Company or one or more of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries, then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that (1) each holder of a Right (except as otherwise provided herein) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at a price equal to the then current Purchase Price multiplied by the number of Preferred Share Units for which a Right is then exercisable, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of Preferred Share Units, such number of freely tradeable Common Shares of such other Person (including the Company as successor thereto or as the surviving corporation), free and clear of any liens, rights of call or first refusal, encumbrances or other adverse claims, as shall equal the result obtained by (A) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the number of Preferred Share Units for which a Right is then exercisable and dividing that product by (B) 50% of the then current per share market price of the Common Shares of such other Person (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the date of consummation of such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer; (2) the issuer of such Common Shares shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement; (3) the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such issuer; and (4) such issuer shall take such steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of its Common Shares in accordance with Section 9 hereof) in connection with such consummation as may be necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to the Common Shares thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights. (b) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer unless prior thereto the Company and such issuer shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing for the terms set forth in Section 13(a) hereof and further providing that, as soon as practicable after the date of any consolidation, merger, sale or transfer of assets mentioned in Section 13(a) hereof, such issuer at its own expense shall: (i) prepare and file a registration statement under the Act with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder) until the Expiration Date; 17 (ii) use its best efforts to qualify or register the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights under the blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as may be necessary or appropriate; and (iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial statements for such issuer and each of its Affiliates which comply in all material respects with the requirements for registration on Form 10 under the Exchange Act. (c) The Company shall not enter into any transaction of the kind referred to in this Section 13 if at the time of such transaction there are any rights, warrants, instruments or securities outstanding or any agreements or arrangements which, as a result of the consummation of such transaction, would eliminate or substantially diminish the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights. The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers. Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares. (a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or to distribute Right Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole Right. For the purposes of this Section 14(a), the current market value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would have been otherwise issuable. The closing price for any day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the Rights are listed or admitted to trading or, if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by Nasdaq or such other system then in use or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Rights selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. If on any such date no such market maker is making a market in the Rights, the fair value of the Rights on such date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be used. 18 (b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Preferred Shares (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Preferred Shares (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share). Fractions of Preferred Shares in integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts, pursuant to an appropriate agreement between the Company and a depositary selected by it; provided that such agreement shall provide that the holders of such depositary receipts shall have all the rights, privileges and preferences to which they are entitled as Beneficial Owners of the Preferred Shares represented by such depositary receipts. In lieu of fractional Preferred Shares that are not integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of Right Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of one Preferred Share. For the purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market value of a Preferred Share shall be the closing price of a Preferred Share (as determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section 11(d)(ii) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise. (c) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right expressly waives such holder's right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional shares upon exercise of a Right (except as expressly provided above). Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this Agreement, except the rights of action given to the Rights Agent under Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the Common Shares); and any registered holder of any Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), may, in his own behalf and for his own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate in the manner provided in such Right Certificate and in this 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 Shares; 19 (b) after the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates are transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer; and (c) the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name the Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common Share certificate) is registered on the registration books of the Company as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the Right Certificates or the associated Common Share 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. Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder. No holder, as such, of any Right Certificate shall be deemed for any purpose to be the holder of the Preferred Shares or any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any Right Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Right Certificate as such, any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting shareholders or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the provisions hereof. Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent. The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and other disbursements incurred in the administration and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and administration of this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending against any claim of liability in the premises and reasonable counsel fees and expenses. The indemnity provided herein shall survive the expiration of the Rights and the termination of this Agreement. The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability for, or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection with, its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any Right Certificate or certificate for the Preferred Shares or Common Shares or for other securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement, or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper person or persons, or otherwise upon the advice of counsel as set forth in Section 20 hereof. 20 Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent. Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the stock transfer or corporate trust business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, provided that such corporation would be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21 hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this Agreement any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Right Certificates in its name as the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Right Certificates and in this Agreement. 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 the duties and obligations specifically imposed by this Agreement 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 and no implied duties or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Rights Agent: (a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion. (b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by any one of the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full authorization to the Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate. 21 (c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder to the Company and any other Person only for its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct. (d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this 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 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 void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) or any adjustment in the terms of the Rights (including the manner, method or amount thereof) provided for in Section 3, 11, 13, 23 or 24, or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such change or adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Right Certificates after actual notice that such change or adjustment is required); nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any Preferred Shares, Common Shares or other securities to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Right Certificate or as to whether any Preferred Shares, Common Shares or other securities will, when issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and non-assessable. (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 of 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 one of the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Secretary or the Treasurer of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of any such officer or for any delay in acting while waiting for those instructions. Any application by the Rights Agent for written instructions from the Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Rights Agent under this Rights Agreement and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The Rights Agent shall not be liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the Rights Agent in accordance with a proposal included in any such application on or after the date specified in such application (which date shall not be less than five Business Days after the date any such 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 22 action (or the effective date in the case of an omission), the Rights Agent shall have received written instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted. (h) The Rights Agent and any shareholder, director, officer or employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity. (i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct, provided reasonable care was exercised in the selection and continued employment thereof. (j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its rights if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. (k) The Rights Agent shall have no responsibility to the Company, any holders of Rights, any holders of Common Stock or any holders of Preferred Stock for interest or earnings on any monies held by the Rights Agent pursuant to this Agreement. (l) The Rights Agent shall not be required to take notice or be deemed to have notice of any fact, event or determination (including, without limitation, any dates or events defined in this Agreement or the designation of any Person as an Acquiring Person, Affiliate or Associate) under this Agreement unless and until the Rights Agent shall be specifically notified in writing by the Company of such fact, event or determination, and all notices shall be effective if given in accordance with Section 25 hereof, and in the absence of such notice the Rights Agent may conclusively assume that no such event or condition exists. (m) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form of assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has either 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 of transfer without receiving written instructions of 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 23 upon 30 days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and to each transfer agent of the Preferred Shares and Common Shares by registered or certified mail, and 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 Preferred Shares and Common Shares by registered or certified mail, and 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 incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Right Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Right Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the registered holder of any Right Certificate or the retiring Rights Agent may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be (i) a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or the State of Indiana (or of any other state of the United States so long as such corporation is authorized to do business as a banking institution), validly existing and which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust or stock transfer powers and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and which has at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million or (ii) a subsidiary of a corporation described in clause (i) of this sentence. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed and the duties and obligations of the retiring Rights Agent shall cease and terminate; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment the Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Shares or Preferred Shares, and mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Right Certificates. Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be. Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates. Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new Right Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as may be approved by 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. Section 23. Redemption. (a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any time prior to the tenth business day after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, 24 redeem all but not less than all of the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $.0001 per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such redemption price being hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption Price"); provided, however, that during the time period in which the Rights may be redeemed, the Board of Directors of the Company may extend the time during which the Rights may be redeemed for a time period as may be determined by the Board of Directors. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable after the first occurrence of the event described in Section 11(a)(ii) until such time as the Company's right of redemption hereunder has expired. The redemption of the Rights by the Board of Directors of the Company may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board of Directors of the Company, in its sole discretion, may establish. The Company may, at is option, pay the Redemption Price in cash, Common Shares (based on the current market price at the time of redemption) or any other form of consideration deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors. (b) In addition, in the exercise of its sole discretion the Board of Directors of the Company may redeem all but not less than all of the then outstanding Rights at the Redemption Price following the occurrence of a Shares Acquisition Date but prior to any event described in Section 13(a) either (a) in connection with any event specified in Section 13(a) in which all holders of Preferred Share Units are treated alike and not involving (other than as a holder of Preferred Share Units being treated like all other such holders) an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person or any other Person in which such Acquiring Person, Affiliate or such Associate has any interest, or any other Person acting directly or indirectly on behalf of or in association with any such Acquiring Person, Affiliate or Associate, or (b) following the occurrence of an event set forth in, and the expiration of any period during which the holder of Rights may exercise the rights under, Section 11(a)(ii) if and for as long as the Acquiring Person is not thereafter the Beneficial Owner 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares, and at the time of redemption there are no other persons who are Acquiring Persons. (c) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company ordering the redemption of the Rights, and without any further, action and without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price. Within ten days after the action of the Board of Directors ordering the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall give notice of such redemption to the holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to all such holders 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 Shares. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption will state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made. Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates or Associates may redeem, acquire or purchase for value any Rights at any time in any manner other than that specifically set forth in this Section 23, and other than in connection with the purchase of Common Shares prior to the Distribution Date. 25 Section 24. Exchange. (a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any time after any person becomes an Acquiring Person, exchange all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) for Common Shares at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction involving either the Preferred Shares or the Common Shares occurring after the date hereof (such exchange ratio 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 the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any such Subsidiary, or any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan), together with all Affiliates and Associates of such person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of more than 50% of the Common Shares then outstanding. (b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to Section 24(a) and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such Rights shall be to receive that number of Common Shares equal to the number of such Rights held by such holder multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The Company shall promptly give public notice of any such exchange; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity of such exchange. The Company promptly shall mail a notice of any such exchange to all of the holders of such Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of exchange will state the method by which the exchange of the Common Shares for Rights will be effected and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights which will be exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the number of Rights (other than Rights which have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) held by each holder of Rights. (c) In any exchange pursuant to this Section 24, the Company, at its option, may substitute Preferred Shares (or equivalent preferred stock, as such term is defined in Section 11(b) hereof) for some or all of the Common Shares exchangeable for Rights, at the initial rate of one Preferred Share Unit (or equivalent preferred stock) for each Common Share, as appropriate adjusted to reflect adjustments in the voting rights of the Preferred Stock pursuant to the terms thereof, so that each Preferred Share Unit delivered in lieu of each share of Common Stock shall have the same voting rights as one share of Common Stock. (d) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Common Shares or Preferred Share Units or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Common Shares or Preferred Share Units. In lieu of such fractional Common Shares or Preferred Share Units, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional Common Shares or 26 Preferred Share Units would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole Common Share or Preferred Share Units. For the purposes of this Section 24(d), the current market value of a whole Common Share or Preferred Share Unit, shall be the closing price of a Common Share (as determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of exchange pursuant to this Section 24. Section 25. Notice of Certain Events. (a) In case the Company shall propose (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the holders of its Preferred Shares or to make any other distribution to the holders of its Preferred Shares (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend), (ii) to offer to the holders of its Preferred Shares rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional Preferred Shares or shares of stock of any class or any other securities, rights or options, (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Preferred Shares (other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding Preferred Shares), (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger into or with, or to effect any sale or other transfer (or to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale or other transfer), in one or more transactions, of 50% or more of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to, any other Person, (v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, or (vi) to declare or pay any dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or to effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common Shares (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of dividends in Common Shares), then, in each such case, the Company shall give to each holder of a Right Certificate, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the record date for the purposes of such stock dividend, or distribution of rights or warrants, or the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the date of participation therein by the holders of the Preferred Shares, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least 10 days prior to the record date for determining holders of the Preferred Shares for purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at least 10 days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of participation therein by the holders of the Preferred Shares, whichever shall be the earlier. (b) In case the event set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall occur, then (i) the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each holder of a Right Certificate, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event, which notice shall describe such event and the consequences of such event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) hereof and (ii) all references in the foregoing Section 25(a) to Preferred Shares shall be deemed thereafter to refer also, if appropriate, to Common Shares and/or, if appropriate, other securities of the Company. Section 26. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Right Certificate to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Rights Agent) as follows: 27 German American Bancorp 711 Main Street P.O. Box 810 Jasper, Indiana 47547-0810 Attention: President Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, any notice or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Right Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made upon receipt if sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Company) as follows: UMB Bank, N.A., as Rights Agent P.O. Box 7015 Kansas City, MO 64141-7015 Attention: Corporate Trust Department Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Right Certificate shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown on the registry books of the Company. Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. The Company may from time to time supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of Right Certificates in order to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to the Rights which the Company may deem necessary or desirable, including but not limited to extending the Final Expiration Date, any such supplement or amendment to be evidenced by a writing signed by the Company and the Rights Agent; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not be amended in any manner which would adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights. This Agreement shall not be amended in any manner which would adversely affect or change the duties of the Rights Agent or provide any additional duties or obligations to the Rights Agent. The Company shall provide Notice to the Rights Agent of any supplements and amendments. 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 or corporation other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Shares) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement and 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 Shares). 28 Section 30. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent Jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated. Section 31. Governing Law. This Agreement, each Right and each Right Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of Indiana and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely within such State, except for Sections 18, 19, 20, and 21 hereof and relations to rights, duties and obligations of Rights Agent, which shall be governed by the laws of the State of Missouri without reference to its choice of law rules. Section 32. 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 33. 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. 29 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed, all as of the day and year first above written. GERMAN AMERICAN, BANCORP By: /s/ Mark A. Schroeder -------------------------------------------- Mark A. Schroeder President and Chief Executive Officer UMB BANK, N.A., As Rights Agent By: /s/ Frank Bramwell -------------------------------------------- Frank Bramwell Senior Vice President 30 Exhibit A --------- Form of Right Certificate Certificate No. R- _________ Rights NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER APRIL 26, 2010, OR EARLIER IF REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE OCCURS. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT $.0001 PER RIGHT AND TO EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. Right Certificate GERMAN AMERICAN BANCORP This certifies that __________________________, or registered assigns, is the registered owner of the number Rights set forth above, each of which entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, dated as of April 27, 2000 (the "Rights Agreement"), between German American Bancorp, an Indiana corporation (the "Company"), and UMB Bank, National Association, as Rights Agent, (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., Eastern Standard Time, on April 26, 2010, at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or at the office of its successor as Rights Agent, one one-hundredth (.01) of a fully paid and non-assessable Preferred Share (the "Preferred Share Units") of the Company, at a purchase price of $75.00 per Preferred Share Unit (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this Right Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase duly executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate (and the number of Preferred Share Units 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 April 27, 2000, based on the Preferred Share Units as constituted at such date. As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number of Preferred Share Units which may be purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events. A-1 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 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 offices of the Rights Agent. This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, upon surrender at the principal office of the Rights Agent, may be exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate number of Preferred Share Units or other securities 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 $.0001 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged in whole or in part for the Company's Common Stock, without par value. No fractional Preferred Share Units will be issued upon the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fraction shares that are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depository receipts), but in lieu thereof, a cash payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement. No holder of this Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred Shares or of any other securities of the Company that may at any time be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting shareholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise until the 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 purchase until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent. A-2 WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company, and its corporate seal. Dated as of ___________________, 20__. ATTEST: GERMAN AMERICAN BANCORP ________________________________ By___________________________________ Countersigned: ________________________________ By______________________________ Authorized Signature A-3 Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate FORM OF ASSIGNMENT ------------------ To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires to transfer the Right Certificate) FOR VALUE RECEIVED __________________________________________ hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto ____________________________________________________ (Please print name and address of transferee) _______________________________________________________________________________ this Right Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ___________________ Attorney, to transfer the within Right Certificate on the books of the within-named Company, with full power of substitution. Dated:__________________, 20___ ________________________________________ Signature Signature Guaranteed: Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States. CERTIFICATE ----------- The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are not beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement). ________________________________________ Signature A-4 Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate --- continued FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE ---------------------------- (To be executed if holder desires to exercise the Right Certificate.) To German American Bancorp: The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise _________ Rights represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the Preferred Shares, Common Shares or such other securities issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that certificates for such Preferred Shares, Common Shares or such other securities be issued in the name of: Please insert social security or other identifying number: ___________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ (Please print name and address) ________________________________________________________________________________ If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate, a new Right Certificate for the balance remaining of such Rights shall be registered in the name of and delivered to: Please insert social security or other identifying number: ___________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ (Please print name and address) Dated: _________________, 20____ ________________________________________ Signature A-5 Signature Guaranteed: Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States. CERTIFICATE ----------- The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are not beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement). ________________________________________ Signature NOTICE ------ The signature in the foregoing Forms of Assignment and Election must conform to the name as written upon the face of this Right Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever. In the event the certification set forth above in the Form of Assignment or the Form of Election to Purchase, as the case may be, is not completed, the Company and the Rights Agent will deem the beneficial owner of the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and such Assignment or Election to Purchase will not be honored. A-6 Exhibit B SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE PREFERRED SHARES On April 27, 2000, the Board of Directors of German American Bancorp (the "Company") adopted a Shareholder Rights Plan (the "Rights Plan"). The purpose of the Rights Plan is to deter certain coercive takeover tactics and enable the Board of Directors to represent effectively the interest of shareholders in the event of a takeover attempt. The Rights Plan does not deter negotiated mergers or business combinations that the Board of Directors determines to be in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders. To implement the Rights Plan the Board of Directors declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a "Right") for each outstanding common share of the Company (the "Common Shares"). The dividend is payable to shareholders of record on May 10, 2000 (the "Record Date"). Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (the "Preferred Share Units") at a price of $75.00 per Preferred Share Unit (the "Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and UMB Bank, National Association, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent"). Rights Attach to Common Shares Initially Initially and until a Distribution Date (as defined below) occurs, the Rights are attached to all Common Shares and no separate Rights certificates will be issued. During this initial period, * the Rights are not exercisable; * the Rights are transferred with the Common Shares and are not transferable separately from the Common Shares; * new Common Shares certificates or book entry shares issued will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference; and * the transfer of any Common Shares will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with those Common Shares. Distribution of Rights Separate certificates evidencing the Rights will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Shares on the "Distribution Date." The Distribution Date is the earlier to occur of the following two events (or such later date as may be determined by the Board of Directors): B-1 * 10 business days following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an "Acquiring Person") have acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares; or * 10 business days (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person) after 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 30% or more of such outstanding Common Shares. Acquisitions by the following persons will not result in the person becoming an Acquiring Person: the Company, any subsidiary or employee benefit plan of the Company, or any other person approved in advance by the Board of Directors. After the Distribution Date, the Rights will be tradeable separately from the Common Shares. After the Distribution Date and after the Company's right to redeem (as described below) has expired, the Rights will be exercisable in two different ways depending on the circumstances as set forth below. Right to Purchase Company Stock After the Distribution Date and after the Company's redemption right has expired, each holder of a Right (except those held by the Acquiring Person and its affiliates and associates) will have the right to purchase, upon exercise, that number of Common Shares (or, in certain circumstances, Preferred Share Units or other similar securities of the Company in lieu of such Common Shares) having a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right, subject to the availability of a sufficient number of authorized but unissued Common Shares (such right being called the "Subscription Right"). The Subscription Right will be exercisable for a 60-day period after the effective date of a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, covering the Common Shares (or Preferred Share Units or other securities). Right to Purchase Acquiring Person Stock Alternatively, if 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, each holder of a Right 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 acquiring company which at the time of such transaction will have a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right (such right being called the "Merger Right"). Each holder of a Right (other than an Acquiring Person) will continue to have the Merger Right whether or not such holder exercises the Subscription Right. B-2 Exchange of Company Stock for Rights At any time after the acquisition by a person or group of affiliated or associated persons of beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares or the announcement of a tender or exchange offer resulting in the beneficial ownership by a Person or group of 30% or more of the outstanding Common Shares and prior to the acquisition by such Person or group of more than 50% outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group which have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one Common Share 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 Common Shares or Preferred Share Units will be issued and in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the Common Shares or Preferred Share Units on the last trading day prior to the date of exercise. Adjustment of Shares The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred Share Units or other securities 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 Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Shares of certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares at a price, or securities convertible into Preferred Shares with a conversion price, less than the then current market price of the Preferred Shares or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Preferred Shares of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends paid out of earnings or retained earnings or dividends payable on Preferred Shares) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above). The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred Share Units or other securities issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are also subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split of the Common Shares, or a stock dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares, or subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of the Common Shares occurring, in any such case, prior to the Distribution Date. Redemption At any time prior to the close of business on the tenth day following the acquisition by a person or group of affiliated or associated persons of beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares or the announcement of a tender or exchange offer resulting in the beneficial ownership by a Person or group of 30% or more of the outstanding Common Shares and subject to extension of the redemption period by the Board of Directors, the Board of B-3 Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.0001 per Right (the "Redemption Price"). The redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish. Additionally the Company may, following the time that a person has become an Acquiring Person, redeem the then outstanding Rights in whole, but not in part, at the Redemption Price provided that such redemption is (i) in connection with a merger or other business combination transaction or series of transactions involving the Company in which all holders of Common Shares are treated alike but not involving an Acquiring Person or any person who was an Acquiring Person or (ii) following an event giving rise to, and the expiration of the exercise period for, the Subscription Right if and for as long as no person beneficially owns securities representing 15% or more of the Company's outstanding Common Shares. 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. Expiration of Rights The Rights will expire on April 26, 2010, unless the expiration date is extended by amendment as described below or unless the Rights are redeemed or exchanged by the Company as described above. Amendments As long as the Rights are redeemable, the terms of the Rights may be amended by the Board of Directors of the Company without the consent of the holders of the Rights, except that no such amendment may adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Rights. Miscellaneous The number of outstanding Rights and the number of Preferred Share Units issuable upon exercise of each Right are subject to adjustment under certain circumstances. Because of the nature of the Preferred Shares' dividend, liquidation and voting rights, the value of a Preferred Share Unit that may be purchased upon exercise of each Right should approximate the value of one Common Share. Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights as a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends. A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the Company upon request to the Corporate Secretary of the Company. B-4 This summary description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. B-5