-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, VjA2V+Agfol0Ohi1OoFrIJk1w4PuoTFFrDoaG5PdKtpPnzxcWUWDsNRusCWk0WSx iQaT9Y4XRP8DKFWTUeSOQw== 0000912057-97-020121.txt : 19970613 0000912057-97-020121.hdr.sgml : 19970613 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000912057-97-020121 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-A12G PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 19970612 SROS: NASD FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: MYLEX CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000731619 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: COMPUTER COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT [3576] IRS NUMBER: 592291597 STATE OF INCORPORATION: FL FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-A12G SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-13381 FILM NUMBER: 97622715 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 34551 ARDENWOOD BLVD CITY: FREMONT STATE: CA ZIP: 94555 BUSINESS PHONE: 5107966100 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 34551 ARDENWOOD BLVD STREET 2: 34551 ARDENWOOD BLVD CITY: FREMONT STATE: CA ZIP: 94555 8-A12G 1 8-A SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-A FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Mylex Corporation ----------------------------------------------- (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) Delaware 59-2291597 -------------------------------- ----------------- (State of Incorporation or (I.R.S. Employer Organization) Identification No.) 34551 Ardenwood Boulevard Fremont, California 94555 ------------------------------ --------------- (Address of principal executive (Zip Code) offices) Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Title of Each Class Name of Each Exchange on Which to be so Registered Each Class is to be Registered -------------------------- -------------------------------------- Common Stock Purchase Rights Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None ------------------- (Title of Class) Page 1 of ___ Pages ITEM 1. DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT'S SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED. RIGHTS AGREEMENT On May 12, 1997, the Board of Directors of Mylex Corporation (the "Company") authorized the distribution of one common stock purchase right (a "Right") for each outstanding share of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company ("Common Stock") to stockholders of record at the close of business on May 23, 1997 (the "Record Date"). In addition, the Company has authorized the issuance of one Right with respect to each share of Common Stock that shall become outstanding between the Record Date and the earlier of the Distribution Date or Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter defined) or the date, if any, on which the Rights may be redeemed. Each Right, when exercisable, entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company a quarter (1/4) share of Common Stock (or other shares, securities or property, as the case may be, of equivalent value) at a price of $2.65 per share (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 BankBoston, N.A., as Rights Agent. Initially, the Rights will not be exercisable and will be attached to, and evidenced only by, the Common Stock certificates representing the shares of Common Stock then outstanding. The Rights will become exercisable, will separate from the Common Stock, and will become transferrable apart from the Common Stock on a date (the "Distribution Date") that is the earlier of the close of business on the tenth business day following (i) a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an "Acquiring Person") has acquired or obtained the right to acquire, in a transaction or series of transactions not approved by the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"), beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the "Shares Acquisition Date") or (ii) the commencement of a tender or exchange offer by any person (other than the Company or an employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries) for 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption, exchange or expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be transferred with and only with the Common Stock certificates to which the Rights are attached. New Common Stock certificates after the Record Date upon transfer or new issuance of Common Stock will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference, and the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Stock outstanding on or after the Record Date, with or without such notation or a copy of this Summary of Rights being attached thereto, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the shares of Common Stock represented by such certificate. As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights (the "Rights Certificates") will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate Rights Certificates alone will evidence the Rights. 2 In the event that at any time following the Distribution Date, (i) the Company is the surviving corporation in a merger with an Acquiring Person and the Company's Common Stock is not changed or exchanged, (ii) a person becomes the beneficial owner of 20% or more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock (except pursuant to an offer for which all outstanding shares of Common Stock which the Continuing Directors (as defined) determine to be fair to and otherwise in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders), (iii) an Acquiring Person engages in one or more "self dealing" transactions as set forth in the Rights Agreement, or (iv) during such time as there is an Acquiring Person, an event occurs which results in such Acquiring Person's ownership interest being increased by more than 1% (e.g., a reverse stock split), each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise and payment of the Purchase Price, Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or other securities of the Company, subject to certain limitations) having a value equal to two times the Purchase Price of the Right. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all Rights that are, with certain exceptions specified in the Rights Agreement, beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person (or any of its affiliates or associates, as defined) will be null and void. The Rights are, however, not exercisable following the occurrence of any of the events set forth above until such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable by the Company. In the event that at any time following the Share Acquisition Date, (i) the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction in which the Company is not the surviving Corporation, or (ii) 50 percent or more of the Company's assets or earning power is sold or transferred, each holder of a Right (except Rights which previously have been voided as set forth above) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise thereof and payment of the then current Purchase Price, Common Stock of the acquiring company having a value equal to two times the Purchase Price of the Right. The Purchase Price payable, and the number of shares of Common Stock (or the number and kind of other securities or property, as the case may be) 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 Common Stock, (ii) upon the grant to owners of the Common Stock of certain rights or warrants to subscribe for Common Stock or convertible securities at less than the current market price of the Common Stock, or (iii) upon the distribution of holders of the Common Stock of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular quarterly cash dividends or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above)). At any time after a person or group of affiliated or associated person becomes an acquiring person, an until the beneficial ownership level of such acquiring person, together with all affiliates and associates of such acquiring person, reaches 50 percent, the Board of Directors may exchange the Rights (other than the Rights held by the acquiring person, affiliates or associates of the acquiring person and certain other persons whose Rights can be traced to an acquiring person) in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of a quarter (1/4) share of the Common Stock per Right. The exchange must also be approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors. 3 At any time prior to the close of business on the tenth business day following the Share Acquisition Date, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole but not in part at a redemption price of $0.01 per Right. Under certain circumstances, the redemption must also be approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors. Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors electing to redeem the Rights, with, where required, the concurrence of the Continuing Directors, the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the redemption price. With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required until accumulative adjustments amount to at least one percent of the Purchase Price. No fractional shares will be issued and in lieu thereof an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the Common Stock on the last trading day prior to the date of exercise. The term "Continuing Directors" means any member of the Board of Directors of the Company who was a member of the Board prior to the date of the Rights Agreement, and any person who is subsequently elected to the Board if such person is recommended or approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors, but shall not include an Acquiring Person or an affiliate or associate of an Acquiring Person or any representative of the foregoing entities. Until the Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends. At any time prior to the Distribution Date, the Board of Directors may amend any provision of the Rights Agreement in any manner, including to change the Purchase Price, without the approval of the holders of the Common Stock. Thereafter, subject to certain limitations, the Board of Directors (with the concurrence of the Continuing Directors) may amend the Rights Agreement without the approval of the holders of the Common Stock in order to cure any ambiguity, to make changes which do not adversely affect the interest of holders of Rights (excluding the interest of any acquiring person), or to shorten or lengthen any time period under the Rights Agreement. The Rights have certain anti-takeover effects. The Rights will cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire the Company on terms not approved by the Board of Directors. The Rights should not interfere with any merger or other business combination approved by the Board of Directors since the Board of Directors may, at its option, at any time prior to the close of business on the tenth business day after the Shares Acquisition Date, redeem all but not less than all of the then outstanding Rights at the Redemption Price. A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed as an exhibit to this Registration Statement. 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. 4 ITEM 2. EXHIBITS. Exhibit No. Description ----------- ----------- 4.1 Rights Agreement dated as of May 23, 1997, between the Registrant and BankBoston, N.A., which includes the form of Rights Certificate (including the forms of Assignment and Election to Exercise) as Exhibit A and the Summary of Rights to Purchase Common Stock as Exhibit B. SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized. MYLEX CORPORATION Date: June 11, 1997 By: _______________________________________ Al Montross President and Chief Executive Officer 5 EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit No. Description ----------- ----------- 4.1 Rights Agreement dated as of May 23, 1997, between the Registrant and BankBoston, N.A., which includes the form of Rights Certificate (including the forms of Assignment and Election to Exercise) as Exhibit A and the Summary of Rights to Purchase Common Stock as Exhibit B. 6 EXHIBIT 4.1 RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED MAY 23, 1997 BETWEEN MYLEX CORPORATION AND BANKBOSTON, N.A., RIGHTS AGENT TABLE OF CONTENTS Page No. -------- Section 1. Certain Definitions 1 Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent 5 Section 3. Issuance of Rights Certificates 5 Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates 7 Section 5. Countersignature and Registration 8 Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates 8 Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights 9 Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates 11 Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Common Shares 11 Section 10. Common Shares Record Date 12 Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or Number of Rights 13 Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares 20 Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power 21 Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares 24 Section 15. Rights of Action 25 Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders 25 Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder 26 Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent 26 Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent 26 Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent 27 Section 21. Change of Rights Agent 29 Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates 30 Section 23. Redemption 30 Section 24. Exchange 31 Section 25. Notice of Certain Events 33 Section 26. Notices 34 Section 27. Supplements and Amendments 34 Section 28. Successors 35 Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc. 35 i Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement 36 Section 31. Severability 36 Section 32. Governing Law 36 Section 33. Counterparts 36 Section 34. Descriptive Headings 36 Exhibit A Form of Rights Certificate A-1 Exhibit B Summary of Rights to Purchase Common Stock B-1 ii COMMON STOCK RIGHTS AGREEMENT This COMMON STOCK RIGHTS AGREEMENT is dated as of May 23, 1997 between Mylex Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and BankBoston, N.A. (the "Rights Agent"). Subject to the execution of this Agreement (as hereinafter defined) and to certain other conditions, on May 12, 1997 (the "Rights Dividend Declaration Date"), the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") authorized and declared a dividend of one common stock purchase right (a "Right") for each Common Share (as hereinafter defined) of the Company outstanding as of the Close of Business (as hereinafter defined) on May 23, 1997 (the "Record Date"), and further authorized and directed the issuance of one Right (as such number may be adjusted pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement) with respect to each Common Share that shall become outstanding between the Record Date and the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter defined), and in certain circumstances after the Distribution Date. Each Right represents the right to purchase a quarter (1/4) share of Common Stock (as such number may be adjusted pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement), upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows: Section 1. Certain Definitions. The following terms have the meanings indicated: (a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such person, shall be the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) the term Acquiring Person shall not include the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any trustee or fiduciary with respect to such plan acting in such capacity; and (y) no Person shall become an Acquiring Person as the result of (A) the acquisition of Common Stock (or other securities convertible into Common Stock or other rights with respect to Common Stock) directly from the Company, or (B) an acquisition of Common Stock by the Company which, by reducing the number of shares outstanding, proportionately increases the percentage of shares beneficially owned by such Person (alone or together with all of such Person's Affiliates and Associates) to 20% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding; provided, however, that if a Person (together with such Person's Affiliates and Associates) becomes the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Stock then outstanding as a result of share purchases by the Company, and such Person (or an Affiliate or Associate of such Person) subsequently becomes the Beneficial Owner of any additional Common Stock, such Person shall then be an Acquiring Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith that a Person who would otherwise be an Acquiring Person has become such inadvertently, and such Person divests as promptly as practicable the sufficient number of shares of Common Stock so that such Person is no longer an Acquiring Person, then such Person shall not be deemed an Acquiring Person for purposes of this Agreement. (b) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). (c) "Agreement" shall mean this Rights Agreement as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended pursuant to the applicable provisions herein. (d) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of and shall be deemed to "beneficially own" any securities: (i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates is considered to beneficially own, directly or indirectly, for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and Rule 13d-3 of the Rules and Regulations (or any comparable or successor law or regulation); (ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates, directly or indirectly, has (A) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time or upon the satisfaction of condition) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) (other than customary agreements with and between underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide public offering of securities), or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights (other than the Rights), warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed pursuant to this Section 1(d)(ii)(A) 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 under this Section 1(d)(ii)(B) 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 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 (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) with which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) (other than customary agreements with and between underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide public offering of securities) for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except to the extent contemplated by the proviso 2 to Section 1(d)(ii)(B)) or disposing of any securities of the Company; provided, however, that in no case shall an officer or director of the Company be deemed (x) the Beneficial Owner of any securities beneficially owned by another officer or director of the Company solely by reason of actions undertaken by such persons in their capacity as officers or directors of the Company or (y) the Beneficial Owner of securities held of record by the trustee of any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company for the benefit of any employee of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, other than the officer or director, by reason of any influence that such officer or director may have over the voting of the securities held in the plan. (d) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, or a day on which banking institutions in San Francisco, California are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close. (e) "Close of Business" on any given day shall mean 2:00 p.m., California time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business Day, it shall mean 2:00 p.m., California time on the next succeeding Business Day. (f) "Common Shares," when used with reference to the Company, shall mean the shares of Common Stock. "Common Shares," when used with reference to any Person other than the Company, shall mean the capital stock (or equity interest) with the greatest voting power of such other Person or, if such other Person is a Subsidiary of another Person, the Person or Persons which ultimately control such first-mentioned Person. (g) "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock, $0.01 par value, of the Company. (h) "Continuing Director" shall mean any Person who is a member of the Board of Directors who is not an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, or a nominee or representative of an Acquiring Person or of an Acquiring Person's Affiliate or Associate, and who (i) was a member of the Board prior to the date of this Agreement, or (ii) becomes a member of the Board after the date of this Agreement if such Person's nomination for election to the Board is recommended or approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors. (i) "Distribution Date" shall mean the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the tenth day (or such later date as may be determined by action of a majority of Continuing Directors then in office) after the Shares Acquisition Date (or, if the tenth day after the Shares Acquisition Date occurs before the Record Date, the Close of Business on the Record Date) or (ii) the Close of Business on the tenth day (or such later date as may be determined by action of a majority of Continuing Directors then in office) after the date that a tender or exchange offer by any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person or entity organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) is first published or sent or given within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) of the Rules and Regulations, if, assuming the successful consummation thereof, such Person would be the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding. 3 (j) "Equivalent Shares" shall mean Common Shares and any other class or series of capital stock of the Company that is entitled to participate in dividends and other distributions, including distributions upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, on a proportional basis with the Common Shares. In calculating the number of any class or series of Equivalent Shares for purposes of Section 11 of this Rights Agreement, the number of shares, or fractions of a share, of such class or series of capital stock that is entitled to the same dividend or distribution as a whole Common Share shall be deemed to be one share. (k) "Expiration Date" shall mean the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the Final Expiration Date, (ii) the Redemption Date, (iii) the time at which the Board of Directors orders the exchange of the Rights as provided in Section 24 hereof or (iv) the consummation of a transaction contemplated by Section 13(d) hereof. (l) "Final Expiration Date" shall mean May 23, 2007. (m) "Permitted Offer" shall mean a tender offer or exchange offer for all outstanding Common Shares made in the manner prescribed by Section 14(d) of the Exchange Act and the Rules and Regulations; provided, however, that such tender offer occurs at a time when Continuing Directors are in office and a majority of the Continuing Directors then in office has determined that the offer is both adequate and otherwise in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders (taking into account all factors that such Continuing Directors deem relevant, including without limitation prices that could reasonably be achieved if the Company or its assets were sold on an orderly basis designed to realize maximum value). (n) "Person" means any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, association, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity, as well as any syndicate or group deemed to be a person under Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act. (o) "Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof. (p) "Redemption Date" shall mean the time at which the Board of Directors of the Company orders redemption of the Rights as provided in Section 23 hereof. (q) "Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 23(a) hereof. (r) "Rights Certificate" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3 hereof. (s) "Rules and Regulations" shall mean the general rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act, as in effect on the date hereof. (t) "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean any event described in clause (A), (B) or (C) of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof. (u) "Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of Section 13(a) hereof. 4 (v) "Shares Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public announcement (which shall include a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such; provided that, if such Person is determined not to have become an Acquiring Person pursuant to Section 1(a)(y) hereof, then no Shares Acquisition Date shall be deemed to have occurred. (w) "Subsidiary" means, as to any Person, any corporation of which an amount of voting securities sufficient to elect at least a majority of the directors of such corporation is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person, or otherwise controlled by such Person. (x) "Total Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof. (y) "Trading Day" shall have the meaning set forth in section 11(d) hereof. (z) "Triggering Event" shall mean any Section 11(a)(ii) Event or any Section 13 Event. Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company may from time to time appoint co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or desirable and shall provide the Rights Agent with 10 days' advance written notice of any such appointment. The Rights Agent shall have no duty to supervise, and shall in no event be liable for the acts or omissions of any such co-Rights Agent. Section 3. Issuance of Rights Certificates. (a) Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced (subject to the provisions of Sections 3(b) and 3(c) hereof) by the certificates for Common Shares registered in the names of the holders thereof (which certificates shall also be deemed to be Rights Certificates whether or not such certificates bear the legend set forth in this Section 3) and not by separate Rights Certificates and (ii) the right to receive Rights Certificates will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of Common Shares. Until the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date, the surrender for transfer of such certificates for Common Shares shall also constitute the surrender for 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, at the request and expense of the Company, send) by first-class, 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 Rights Certificate, in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto (a "Rights Certificate"), evidencing one Right for each Common Share so held, subject to adjustment as provided herein. In the event that an adjustment in the number of Rights per Common Share has been made pursuant to Section 11(a)(i) or Section 11(i) hereof, then at the time of distribution of the Rights 5 Certificates, the Company shall make the necessary and appropriate rounding adjustments (in accordance with Section 14(a) hereof) so that Rights Certificates representing only whole numbers of Rights are distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any fractional Rights. As of the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Rights Certificates and may be transferred by the transfer of the Rights Certificates as permitted hereby, separately and apart from any transfer of one or more Common Shares, and the holders of such Rights Certificates as listed in the records of the Company or any transfer agent or registrar for the Rights shall be the record holders thereof. (b) On the Record Date or as soon as practicable thereafter, the Company will send a copy of a Summary of Rights in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (the "Summary Of Rights"), by first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common Shares as of the Close of Business on the Record Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company. (c) Unless the Board of Directors by resolution adopted at or before the time of the issuance (including pursuant to the exercise of rights under the Company's benefit plans) of any Common Shares specifies to the contrary, Rights shall be issued in respect of all Common Shares that are issued after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date or, in certain circumstances provided in Section 22 hereof, after the Distribution Date. Certificates representing such Common Shares shall also be deemed to be certificates for Rights, and shall bear the following legend: This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to certain rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement between Mylex Corporation and BankBoston, N.A. (the "Rights Agent") dated as of May 23, 1997, as it may from time to time be amended (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 Mylex Corporation. 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. Mylex Corporation will mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement, as in effect on the date of mailing, without charge after receipt of a written request therefor. Under certain circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights issued to, or held by, any Person who is, was or becomes an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), whether currently held by or on behalf of such Person or by any subsequent holder, may become null and void. The Rights shall not be exercisable by a holder in any jurisdiction where the requisite qualification to the issuance to such holder of the Rights or the exercise by such holder of the Rights in such jurisdiction, shall not have been obtained or obtainable. With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the earlier of (i) the Distribution Date or (ii) the Expiration Date, the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented by such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone, and the surrender for transfer of any such certificate shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with 6 the Common Shares represented thereby. In the event that the Company purchases or acquires any Common Shares after the Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such Common Shares shall be deemed canceled and retired so that the Company shall not be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with the Common Shares which are no longer outstanding. Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates. (a) The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase Common Shares and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall be substantially in the form of 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 any stock exchange on which the Rights may from time to time be listed, or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 and Section 22 hereof, the Rights Certificates, whenever distributed, shall be dated as of the Record Date (or in the case of Rights issued with respect to Common Shares issued by the Company after the Record Date, as of the date of issuance of such Common Shares), shall show the date of countersignature, and on their face shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number of shares of Common Stock as shall be set forth therein at the price set forth therein (such exercise price per quarter (1/4) share of Common Stock being hereinafter referred to as the "Purchase Price" and the aggregate exercise price of all Common Shares (or, following a Triggering Event, other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) for which such surrendered Right is then exercisable, hereinafter referred to as the "Total Purchase Price"), but the number and type of securities purchasable upon the exercise of each Right and the Purchase Price shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein. (b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section 22 hereof that represents Rights beneficially owned by: (i) an Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom such Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer that the Board of Directors of the Company has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding that has as a primary purpose or effect avoidance of Section 7(e) hereof, and any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6 or Section 11 hereof upon transfer, exchange, replacement or adjustment of any other Rights Certificate referred to in this sentence, shall contain (to the extent feasible) the following legend: The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate are or were beneficially owned by a Person who was or became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights 7 Agreement). Accordingly, this Rights Certificate and the Rights represented hereby may become null and void in the circumstances specified in Section 7(e) of the Rights Agreement. In the event that the Rights become exercisable, the Rights Agent and the Company will agree upon a procedure for determining which Rights will be so legended. Section 5. Countersignature and Registration. (a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President or any Vice President, either manually or by facsimile signature, and by the Secretary of the Company, either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall have affixed thereto the Company's seal (if any) or a facsimile thereof. The Rights Certificates shall be manually countersigned by an authorized signatory of the Rights Agent and shall not be valid for any purpose unless countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Rights Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by the Company, such Rights Certificates, nevertheless, may be countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the Company with the same force and effect as though the person who signed such Rights Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Rights Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by any person who, at the actual date of the execution of such Rights Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such Rights Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this 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 office designated for such purposes, books for registration and transfer of the Rights Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the names and addresses of the respective holders of the Rights Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Rights Certificates and the date of each of the Rights Certificates. Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates. (a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 7(e), 14 and 24 hereof, at any time after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and at or prior to the Close of Business on the Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, entitling the registered holder to purchase the number of shares of Common Stock (or, following a Triggering Event, other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered entitle such holder to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such 8 surrendered Rights Certificate until the registered holder shall have completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such Rights Certificate and shall have provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall, subject to Sections 7(e), 14 and 24 hereof, countersign and deliver to the person entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Rights Certificates. (b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Rights Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to them, and, at the Company's or the Rights Agent's request, reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Rights Certificate if mutilated, the Company will make and deliver a new Rights Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for delivery to the registered holder in lieu of the Rights Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated. Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights. (a) Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, the registered holder of any Rights Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided herein) in whole or in part at any time after the Distribution Date upon surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of election to purchase 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 Total Purchase Price, at or prior to the Expiration Date. (b) The Purchase Price for each quarter (1/4) share of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be $2.65 and shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections 11 and 13 hereof and shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of America in accordance with paragraph (c) below. (c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase duly executed, accompanied by payment of the Total Purchase Price (as such amount may be reduced pursuant to Section 11(a)(iv)) (or other securities or property, as the case may be) and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax required to be paid by the holder of such Rights Certificate in accordance with Section 9(d) hereof in cash, or by certified check or cashier's check payable to the order of the Company, the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 20(k) hereof, thereupon promptly (i)(A) requisition from any transfer agent of the Common Shares (or make available, if the Rights Agent is the transfer agent for the Common Shares) a certificate or certificates for such number of Common Shares to be purchased and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with all such requests or (B) if the Company shall have elected to deposit the total number of Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Rights hereunder with a depository agent, requisition from the depository agent of depository receipts representing such number of Common Shares as are to be purchased (in 9 which case certificates for the Common Shares represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent with the depository agent) and the Company hereby directs the depository agent to comply with such request, (ii) when appropriate, requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of issuance of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii) after receipt of such certificates or depository receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such holder and (iv) when appropriate, after receipt thereof, deliver such cash to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate. The payment of the Purchase Price (as such amount may be reduced (including to zero) pursuant to Section 11(a)(iv) hereof) may be made in cash or by certified check or cashier's check payable to the order of the Company. In the event that the Company is obligated to issue other securities of the Company, pay cash and/or distribute other property pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the Company will make all arrangements necessary so that such other securities, cash and/or other property are available for distribution by the Rights Agent, if and when appropriate. (d) In case the registered holder of any Rights Certificate shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Rights Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent to the registered holder of such Rights Certificate or to his or her duly authorized assigns, subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof. (e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from and after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event or Section 13 Event, any Rights beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such (a "Post Transferee"), (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom the Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board of Directors of the Company has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this Section 7(e) (a "Prior Transferee") or (iv) any subsequent transferee receiving transferred Rights from a Post Transferee or a Prior Transferee, either directly or through one or more intermediate transferees, shall become null and void without any further action and no holder of such Rights shall have any rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether under any provision of this Agreement or otherwise. The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to ensure that the provisions of this Section 7(e) and Section 4(b) hereof are complied with, but shall have no liability to any holder of Rights Certificates or to any other Person as a result of its failure to make any determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or any of such Acquiring Person's Affiliates, Associates or transferees hereunder. (f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to undertake any action with respect to a registered 10 holder upon the occurrence of any purported exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless such registered holder shall have (i) completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of election to purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate surrendered for such exercise and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request. Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates. All Rights Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up, combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or to any of its agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in canceled form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no Rights Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof, except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and retire, any other Rights Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all canceled Rights Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request of the Company and consistent with the internal policies of the Rights Agent, destroy such canceled Rights Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company. Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Common Shares. (a) The Company (i) shall use its reasonable efforts to cause to be reserved and kept available out of, and to the extent of, its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock not reserved for another purpose (and/or other securities), or its authorized and issued shares of Common Stock held in its treasury, the number of shares of Common Stock (and/or other securities) that will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights. (b) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as soon as practicable following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event in which the consideration to be delivered by the Company upon exercise of the Rights has been determined in accordance with Section 11(a)(iv) hereof, or as soon as is required by law following the Distribution Date, as the case may be, a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, (ii) cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and (iii) cause such registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Securities Act) until the earlier of (A) the date as of which the Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities and (B) the Expiration Date. The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days after the date set forth in clause (i) of the first sentence of this Section 9(b), the exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and file such registration statement and permit it to become effective. Upon any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating, and notify the Rights Agent, that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement and notification to the Rights Agent at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. The Company will also take such action as may be appropriate under, or to ensure 11 compliance with, the securities or "blue sky" laws of the various states in connection with the exercisability of the Rights. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction, unless the requisite qualification in such jurisdiction shall have been obtained, or an exemption therefrom shall be available, and until a registration statement has been declared effective. The Company will notify the Rights Agent in writing of the jurisdictions in which Rights shall not be exercisable pursuant to the preceding sentence. So long as shares of Common Stock (and/or other shares of capital stock or securities) issuable upon the exercise of Rights is listed on any national securities exchange, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause all shares or other securities reserved for issuance upon exercise of Rights to be listed on such exchange upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise. (c) The Company shall take such action as may be necessary to ensure that all Common Shares that may be delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for such Common Shares (subject to payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and nonassessable shares. (d) The Company shall pay when due and payable any and all Federal and state transfer taxes and charges which may be payable in respect of the original issuance or delivery of the Rights Certificates or of any Common Shares upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any transfer tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates to a person other than, or the issuance or delivery of certificates or depository receipts for the Common Shares in a name other than that of, the registered holder of the Rights Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or to deliver any certificates or depository receipts for Common Shares upon the exercise of any Rights until any such tax shall have been paid (any such tax being payable by the holder of such Rights Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has been established to the Company's satisfaction that no such tax is due. Section 10. Common Shares Record Date. Each person in whose name any certificate for shares of Common Stock (and/or other securities) is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of Common Shares represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Total Purchase Price with respect to which the Rights have been exercised (and any applicable transfer taxes) was made; provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Common Shares transfer books of the Company are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such shares on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the Common Shares transfer books of the Company are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a Rights Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a holder of Common Shares for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends or other distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein. 12 Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or Number of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number and kind of shares or other property 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 (A) declare a dividend on the Common Stock payable in Common Shares, (B) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, (C) combine the outstanding Common Stock (by reverse stock split or otherwise) into a smaller number of Common Shares, or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Common Stock (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), then, in each such event, except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a) and Section 7(e) hereof, the Purchase Price in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or of the effective date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification, and the number of shares of Common Stock (or the number and kind of other securities, as the case may be), shall be proportionately adjusted so that if a holder of Rights after such time were to exercise that number of Rights (or fraction thereof) which would result in the aggregate amount of the Purchase Price payable upon such exercise (at the Purchase Price then in effect) being equal to the amount of the Purchase Price that was payable prior to such time upon exercise of a Right, he would be entitled to receive the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock in an aggregate principal amount (or the number and kind of other securities, as the case may be) which, if a Right had been exercised immediately prior to such time and at a time when the Common Stock (or other capital stock, as the case may be) transfer books of the Company were open, he would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification. If an event occurs which would require an adjustment under both this Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the adjustment provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof (ii) In the event (A) at any time after the tenth Business Day after a Shares Acquisition Date, directly or indirectly, any Person (other than a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company) shall merge into the Company or any of its subsidiaries or otherwise combine with the Company or any of its subsidiaries and the Company or such subsidiary shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of such merger or combination or any Person shall sell or otherwise transfer, in one or more transactions, assets to the Company or any of its subsidiaries in exchange for 50% or more of the shares of any class of capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and Common Stock of the Company shall remain outstanding and unchanged, or at any time after the date of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, any Acquiring Person shall (1) in one or more transactions, transfer any assets to the Company or any of its subsidiaries in exchange (in whole or in 13 part) for shares of any class of capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or for securities exercisable for or convertible into shares of any class of capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or otherwise obtain from the Company or any of its subsidiaries, with or without consideration, any additional shares of any class of capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or other securities exercisable for or convertible into shares of any class of capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (other than as part of a pro rata distribution to all holders of Common Stock), (2) sell, purchase, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or otherwise dispose (in one or more transactions), to, from or with, as the case may be, the Company or any of its subsidiaries, assets on terms and conditions less favorable to the Company or such subsidiary than the Company or such subsidiary would be able to obtain in arm's-length negotiation with an unaffiliated third party, (3) receive any compensation from the Company or any of its subsidiaries other than compensation for full-time employment as a regular employee, or fees for serving as director, as rates in accordance with the Company's (or its subsidiaries') past practices, or (4) receive the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a stockholder), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial assistance provided by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (B) during such time as there is an Acquiring Person, there shall be any reclassification of securities (including any reverse stock split), or recapitalization of the Company, or any merger, share exchange or consolidation of the Company with any of its subsidiaries or any other similar transaction or series of transactions involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries (whether or not with or into or otherwise involving an Acquiring Person) which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing by more than 1% the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class of equity securities or of securities exercisable for or convertible into equity securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries which is directly or indirectly owned by any Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of any Acquiring Person, or (C) 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 person or entity organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan), either alone or together with its Affiliates and Associates, becomes, at any time after the Rights Dividend Declaration Date, the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, unless the event causing the 20% threshold to be crossed is a transaction set forth in Section 13(a) hereof, or is pursuant to a permitted offer; then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right, except as provided in Section 7(e) hereof, shall thereafter have the right to receive for each Right, upon exercise thereof in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and payment of the then-current Total Purchase Price, such number of quarter (1/4) shares of 14 Common Stock of the Company as shall equal the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then-current Purchase Price by the number of quarter (1/4) shares of Common Stock for which a Right was exercisable (or would have been exercisable if the Distribution Date had occurred) immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, and (y) dividing that product by 50% of one-fourth (1/4) of the Current Per Share Market Price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) for Common Shares on the date of such first occurrence (such number of shares being hereinafter referred to as the "Adjustment Shares"). (iii) The right to buy Common Shares of the Company pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall not arise as a result of any Person becoming an Acquiring Person through an acquisition of Common Shares pursuant to a Permitted Offer. (iv) In the event that the number of shares of Common Stock which are authorized by the Company's Certificate of Incorporation but are not outstanding and are not reserved for issuance other than upon exercise of the Rights are not sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii), the Company, by a vote of the majority of the Board, shall: (A) determine the excess of (1) the value of the Adjustment Shares issuable upon the exercise of a Right (the "Current Value") over (2) the Purchase Price (such excess being the "Spread"); and (B) with respect to each Right, make adequate provision to substitute for the Adjustment Shares, upon payment of the applicable Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (3) other equity securities of the Company, (such other equity securities being referred to as "Capital Stock Equivalents"), (4) debt securities of the Company, (5) other assets, or (6) any combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value equal to the Current Value, where such aggregate value has been determined by a majority of the Board after receiving advice from a nationally recognized investment banking firm; provided, however, if the Company shall not have made adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above within thirty (30) days following the later of (x) the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event and (y) the date on which the Company's right of redemption pursuant to Section 23(a) expires (the later of (x) and (y) being referred to herein as the "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date"), then the Company shall be obligated to deliver, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and without requiring payment of the Purchase Price, Common Shares (to the extent available), except to the extent that the Company has not obtained any necessary stockholder or regulatory approval for such issuance, and then, if necessary, cash, which shares and/or cash have an aggregate value equal to the Spread. If the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine in good faith that it is likely that sufficient additional Common Shares could be authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights or that any necessary regulatory approval for such issuance will be obtained, the thirty (30) day period set forth above may be extended to the extent necessary, but not more than ninety (90) 15 days after the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date, in order that the Company may seek stockholder approval for the authorization of such additional shares or take action to obtain such regulatory approval (such period, as it may be extended, the "Substitution Period"). To the extent that the Company determines that some action need be taken pursuant to the first and/or second sentences of this Section 11(a)(iv), the Company (x) shall provide, subject to Section 7(e) hereof, that such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights and (y) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights until the expiration of the Substitution Period in order to seek any authorization of additional shares, to take any action to obtain any required regulatory approval and/or to decide the appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to such first sentence and to determine the value thereof. In the event of any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating, and shall notify the Rights Agent, that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement, and notification to the Right Agent, at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. For purposes of this Section 11(a)(iv), the value of the Common Shares shall be the Current Per Share Market Price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) of the Common Shares on the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date and the value of any "common stock equivalent" shall be deemed to have the same value as the Common Shares on such date. (b) In case the Company shall, at any time after the date of this Agreement, fix a record date for the issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Common Shares or of any class or series of Equivalent Shares entitling such holders (for a period expiring within forty-five (45) calendar days after such record date) to subscribe for or purchase Common Shares or Equivalent Shares or securities convertible into Common Shares or Equivalent Shares at a price per share (or having a conversion price per share, if a security convertible into Common Shares or Equivalent Shares) less than the then Current Per Share Market Price of the Common Shares or Equivalent Shares (as defined in Section 11(d)) on such record date, then, in each such case, 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 Common Shares and Equivalent Shares (if any) outstanding on such record date, plus the number of Common Shares or Equivalent Shares, as the case may be, which the aggregate offering price of the total number of Common Shares or Equivalent Shares, as the case may be, 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 Common Shares and Equivalent Shares (if any) outstanding on such record date, plus the number of additional Common Shares or Equivalent Shares, as the case may be, to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be offered are initially convertible). In case such subscription price may be paid in a consideration part or all of which shall be in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights. Common Shares and Equivalent 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 16 successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed. (c) In case the Company shall, at any time after the date of this Agreement, fix a record date for the making of a distribution to all holders of the Common Shares or of any class or series of Equivalent 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, if any, or a dividend payable in Common Shares) or subscription rights, options or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b)), then, in each such case, 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 Current Per Share Market Price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) of a Common Share or an Equivalent Share 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 cash, assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants applicable to a Common Share or Equivalent Share, as the case may be, and the denominator of which shall be such Current Per Share Market Price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) of a Common Share or Equivalent Share on such record date. 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 be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would have been in effect if such record date had not been fixed. (d) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, other than computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iv) hereof, the "Current Per Share Market Price" of any security (a "Security" for the purpose of this Section 11(d)) on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of such Security for the thirty (30) consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined) immediately prior to such date; provided, however, that in the event that the Current Per Share Market Price of the Security is determined during a period following the announcement by the issuer of such Security of (i) a dividend or distribution on such Security payable in shares of such Security or securities convertible into such shares or (ii) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such Security, and prior to the expiration of the requisite thirty (30) Trading Day period, after the exdividend date for such dividend or distribution, or the record date for such subdivision, combination or reclassification, then, and in each such case, the Current Per Share Market Price shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect the current market price per share equivalent of such Security. The "closing price" for each day shall be, if the shares of Common Stock (or other securities) are listed and admitted to trading on a national securities exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system for securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which such shares are listed or admitted to trading or, if such shares of Common Stock (or other securities) are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted sales price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported on The Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market (the "Nasdaq National Market") or such other system then in use, or, if on any such date 17 such shares 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 shares of Common Stock (or other securities) selected by a majority of the Board. If on any such date no market maker is making a market in such shares, the fair value of such shares on such date, as determined in good faith by a majority of the Board, shall be used. The term "Trading Day" shall mean a Business Day or, if such shares are listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange or the Nasdaq National Market, a day on which the principal national securities exchange on which such shares are listed or admitted to trading or the Nasdaq National Market is open for the transaction of business. (e) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, 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 ten-thousandth of a Common Share or other share or one hundred-thousandth of a Common Share, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e), any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier of (i) three (3) years from the date of the transaction which requires such adjustment or (ii) the Expiration Date. (f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a) or 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock other than Common Shares, thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of any Right and if required, the Purchase Price thereof, shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the Common Shares contained in this Section 11, and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 with respect to the Common Shares shall apply on like terms to any such other shares. (g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number shares of Common Stock that may be purchased from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein. (h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as provided in Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a result of the calculations made in Section 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 quarter (1/4) shares of Common Stock (calculated to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a share) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of quarter (1/4) shares of Common Stock covered by a Right immediately prior to this adjustment, by (y) the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment of the Purchase Price, and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase Price. 18 (i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of the Purchase Price as a result of the calculations made in Section 11(b) to adjust the number of Rights, in substitution for any adjustment in the number of Common Shares 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 quarter (1/4) shares of Common Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The Company shall make a public announcement, and shall notify the Rights Agent, of its election to adjust the number of Rights, indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. This record date may be the date on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Rights Certificates have been issued, shall be at least ten (10) days later than the date of the public announcement. If Rights Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of Rights Certificates on such record date Rights Certificates evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement for the Rights Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such adjustment. Rights Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner provided for herein (and may bear, at the option of the Company, the adjusted Purchase Price) and shall be registered in the names of the holders of record of Rights Certificates on the record date specified in the public announcement. (j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or the number of quarter (1/4) shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express the Purchase Price per quarter (1/4) share of Common Stock and the number of quarter (1/4) shares of Common Stock which were expressed in the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder. (k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing the Purchase Price below the par or stated value, if any, of the number of quarter (1/4) shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take any corporate action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue as fully paid and nonassessable shares such number of shares of Common Stock at such adjusted Purchase Price. (l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such event the issuing to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date of the number of quarter (1/4) shares of Common Stock and other capital stock or securities of the 19 Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the number of quarter (1/4) shares of Common Stock and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided, however, that the Company shall deliver to such holder a due bill or other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right to receive such additional, shares (fractional or otherwise) upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment. (m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, prior to the Distribution Date, 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 Common Shares, (ii) issuance wholly for cash of any Common Shares at less than the current market price, (iii) issuance wholly for cash of Common Shares or securities which by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares, (iv) stock dividends or (v) issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to in this Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Common Shares shall not be taxable to such stockholders. (n) The Company shall not, at any time after the Distribution Date, (i) consolidate with any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), (ii) merge with or into any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or (iii) sell or transfer (or permit any Subsidiary to sell or transfer), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, assets or earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to, any other Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which complies with Section 22(o) hereof), if (x) at the time or immediately after such consolidation, merger or sale there are any rights, warrants or other instruments or securities outstanding or agreements in effect which would substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights or (y) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after such consolidation, merger or sale, the stockholders of the Person who constitutes, or would constitute, the "Principal Party" for purposes of Section 13(a) hereof shall have received a distribution of Rights previously owned by such Person or any of its Affiliates and Associates. (o) The Company shall not, after the Distribution Date, except as permitted by Sections 23, 24 or 27 hereof, take (or permit to be taken) any action if at the time such action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action will diminish substantially or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights. Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 and 13 hereof, the Company shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment, (b) file with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Common Shares a copy of such certificate and (c) mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Rights Certificate in accordance with Section 26 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the failure of the Company to make such certification or give such notice shall not affect the validity of such adjustment or the force or effect of the requirement for such 20 adjustment. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment contained therein and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of such adjustment unless and until it shall have received such certificate. Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power. (a) In the event that, following the Shares Acquisition Date, directly or indirectly: (i) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and into, any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction the principal purpose of which is to change the state of incorporation of the Company or that complies with Section 11(o) hereof), and the Company shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger; (ii) any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that complies with Section 11(o) hereof) shall consolidate with the Company, or merge with and into the Company and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger and, in connection with such consolidation or merger, all or part of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other Person 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 or Persons (other than the Company or one or more of its wholly owned Subsidiaries in one or more transactions, each of which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that (A) each holder of a Right (except as provided in Section 7(e) or otherwise provided herein) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such number of validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable Common Shares of the Principal Party (as hereinafter defined), free of any liens, encumbrances, rights of first refusal or other adverse claims, as shall be equal to the result obtained by (1) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the number of quarter (1/4) shares of Common Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event (or, if a Section 11(a)(ii) Event has occurred prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, multiplying the number of such quarter (1/4) shares of Common Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event by the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such first occurrence) and (2) dividing that product by 50% of one-fourth (1/4) of the Current Per Share Market 21 Price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) of the Common Shares of such Principal Party on the date of consummation of such Section 13 Event; (B) such Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such Section 13 Event, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement; (C) the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal Party, it being specifically intended that the provisions of Section 11 hereof shall apply only to such Principal Party following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event; and (D) such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of its Common Shares) in connection with the consummation of any such transaction as may be necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to its Common Shares thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights. (b) "Principal Party" shall mean, (i) in the case of any transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) of Section 13(a), the Person that is the issuer of any securities into which shares of Common Stock of the Company are converted in such merger or consolidation, and if no securities are so issued, the Person that is the other party to such merger or consolidation; and (ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause (iii) of Section 13(a), the Person that is the party receiving the greatest portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to such transaction or transactions, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT IN ANY SUCH CASE, (w) IF THE COMMON STOCK OF SUCH PERSON is not at such time and has not been continuously over the preceding 12-month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and such Person is a direct or indirect subsidiary of another corporation the common stock of which is and has been so registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to such other corporation, (x) if the common stock of such Person is not and has not been so registered and such Person is not a direct or indirect subsidiary of another corporation the common stock of which is and has been so registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to the corporation which ultimately controls such Person, (y) in case such Person is a subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than one corporation, the common stocks of all of which are and have been so registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such corporations is the issuer of the common stock having the greatest market value of shares held by the public, and (z) in case such Person is owned, directly or indirectly, by a joint venture formed by two or more Persons that are not owned, directly or indirectly, by the same 22 Person, the rules set forth in (w) - (y) above shall apply to each of the chains of ownership having an interest in such joint venture as if such party were a subsidiary of both or all of such joint venturers and the Principal Parties in each such chain shall bear the obligations set forth in this Section 13 in the same ratio as their direct or indirect interests in such Person bear to the total of such interests. (c) If, for any reason, the Rights cannot be exercised for Common Shares of such Principal Party as provided in Section 13(a), then each holder of Rights shall have the right to exchange its Rights for cash from such Principal Party in an amount equal to the number of Common Shares that it would otherwise be entitled to purchase, as determined pursuant to Section 13(a), times the Current Per Share Market Price, as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof, of such Common Shares of such Principal Party. If, for any reason, the foregoing formulation cannot be applied to determine the cash amount into which the Rights are exchangeable, then the Board of Directors, upon the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors, based upon the advice of one or more nationally recognized investment banking firms, shall determine such amount reasonably and with good faith to the holders of Rights. Any such determination shall be final and binding on the Rights Agent. (d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Section 13 shall not be applicable to a transaction described in clauses (i) and (ii) of Section 13(a) if: (i) such transaction is consummated with a Person or Persons (or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of any such Person or Persons) who acquired Common Shares pursuant to a Permitted Offer; (ii) the price per share of Common Stock offered in such transaction is not less than the price per share of Common Stock paid to all holders of Common Shares whose shares were purchased pursuant to such Permitted Offer; and (iii) the form of consideration being offered to the remaining holders of Common Shares pursuant to such transaction is the same form as the form of consideration paid pursuant to such Permitted Offer. Upon consummation of any such transaction contemplated by this Section 13(d), all Rights hereunder shall expire. (e) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer unless the Principal Party shall have a sufficient number of authorized shares of its Common Stock that have not been issued or reserved for issuance to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with this Section 13 and unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement confirming that such Principal Party shall, upon consummation of such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer, assume this Agreement in accordance with Sections 13(a) and (b) hereof, that all rights of first refusal or preemptive rights in respect of the issuance of Common Shares of such Principal Party upon exercise of outstanding Rights have been waived, that there are no 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 and that such transaction shall not result in a default by such Principal Party under this Agreement, and further providing that, as soon as practicable after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer, such Principal Party will: (i) prepare and file a registration statement under the Securities Act, with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights, on an appropriate form, use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Securities Act) until the Expiration Date, and similarly comply with applicable state securities laws; (ii) use its best efforts to list (or continue the listing of) the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on a national securities exchange or to meet the eligibility requirements for quotation on Nasdaq; and (iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial statements for such Principal Party which comply in all respects with the requirements for registration on Form 10 (or any successor form) under the Exchange Act. In the event that at any time after the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, some or all of the Rights shall not have been exercised at the time of a transaction described in this Section 13, the Rights which have not theretofore been exercised shall thereafter be exercisable in the manner described in Section 13(a) (without taking into account any prior adjustment required by Section 11(a)(ii)). (f) 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 Rights Certificates that evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole Right. For the purposes of this Section 14(a), the current market value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would have been otherwise issuable, as determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section 11(d) hereof. (b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Common Shares (or other securities) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Common Shares. In lieu of fractional Common Shares (or other securities), the Company shall pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a Common Share. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market value of a Common Share shall be the closing price of a Common Share (as determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section 11(d) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise. 24 (c) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right expressly waives his or her right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional shares upon exercise of a Right. Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this Agreement, excepting the rights of action given to the Rights Agent under Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the Common Shares); and any registered holder of any Rights 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 Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), may, in his or her own behalf and for his or her 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 or her right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate in the manner provided in such Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically 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 Rights Holders. Every holder of a Right, by accepting the same, consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and with every other holder of a Right that: (a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of the Common Shares; (b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purposes, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer and with the appropriate forms and certificates fully executed; (c) subject to Sections 6(a) and 7(f) hereof, the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name the Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common Shares certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the Rights Certificate or the associated Common Shares certificate made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary; and (d) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to any holder of a Right or other Person as a result of its inability to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or permanent injunction or other order, decree or ruling issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or administrative agency or commission, 25 or any statute, rule, regulation or executive order promulgated or enacted by any governmental authority prohibiting or otherwise restraining performance of such obligation. Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No holder, as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the shares of Common Stock or any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Rights Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in Section 25 hereof), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the provisions hereof. Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent. (a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent such compensation as shall be agreed to in writing between the Company and the Rights Agent 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 expenses 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. The provisions of this Section 18(a) shall survive the termination of this Agreement. (b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability for, or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection with, its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any Rights Certificate or certificate for the 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 and executed by the proper Person or Persons and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged, or otherwise upon the advice of counsel as set forth in Section 20 hereof. Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent. (a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the shareholder services business of the Rights Agent or any 26 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, however, that such corporation would be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21 hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this Agreement, any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Rights Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement. (b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed and at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement. Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the duties and obligations expressly imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound: (a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel of its selection (who may be legal counsel for the Company), and the opinion or advice 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 or advice. (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 (including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person and the determination of "Current Per Share Market Price") 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 Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, 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. (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. 27 (d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the Rights Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be required to verify the same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only. (e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any 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 Rights 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 Rights Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any change in the exercisability of the Rights or any adjustment in the terms of the Rights (including the manner, method or amount thereof) provided for in Sections 3, 11, 13, 23 or 24, or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such change or adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Rights Certificates after receipt by the Rights Agent of a certificate furnished pursuant to Section 12 describing such change or adjustment); nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any Common Shares to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights Certificate or as to whether any Common Shares will, when issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable. (f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of the provisions of this 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 Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, or the Secretary of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable for any action taken 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 (5) Business Days after the date any officer of the Company actually receives such application, unless any such officer shall have consented in writing to an earlier date) unless, prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of an omission), the Rights Agent shall have received written instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted. (h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract 28 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) 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 or indicates an affirmative response to clause 1 and/or 2 thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such requested exercise or transfer without first consulting with the Company. Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and to each transfer agent for the Common Shares by registered or certified mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent for the Common Shares by registered or certified mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his or her Rights Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the Rights Agent or the registered holder of any Rights Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any state of the United States, in good standing, which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust or stockholder services 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. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights 29 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 for the Common Shares, and mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates. Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be. Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates. Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other securities or property purchasable under the Rights Certificates made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection with the issuance or sale of Common Shares following the Distribution Date and prior to the redemption or expiration of the Rights, the Company (a) shall, with respect to Common Shares so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under any employee plan or arrangement or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of the convertible subordinated debentures of the Company outstanding at the date hereof or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of securities hereinafter issued by the Company and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board of Directors of the Company, issue Rights Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale; provided, however, that (i) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued and this sentence shall be null and void ab initio if, and to the extent that, such issuance or this sentence would create a significant risk of or result in material adverse tax consequences to the Company or the Person to whom such Rights Certificate would be issued or would create a significant risk of or result in such options' or employee plans' or arrangements' failing to qualify for otherwise available special tax treatment and (ii) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance thereof. Section 23. Redemption. (a) The Company may, at its option and with the approval of the Board of Directors, at any time prior to the Close of Business on the earlier of (i) the tenth day following the Shares Acquisition Date or such later date as may be determined by action of a majority of Continuing Directors then in office and publicly announced by the Company or (ii) the Final Expiration Date, redeem all but not less than all of the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $0.01 per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such redemption price being herein referred to as the "Redemption Price"), and the Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price either in Common Shares (based on the Current Per Share Market Price thereof (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) at the time of redemption) or cash; provided, however, if the Board of Directors of the Company authorizes redemption of the Rights in either of the circumstances set 30 forth in clauses (i) or (ii) below, then there must be Continuing Directors then in office and such authorization shall require the concurrence of a majority of such Continuing Directors: (i) such authorization occurs on or after the time a Person becomes an Acquiring Person, or (ii) such authorization occurs on or after the date of a change (resulting from a proxy or consent solicitation) in a majority of the directors in office at the commencement of such solicitation if any Person who is a participant in such solicitation has stated (or, if upon the commencement of such solicitation, a majority of the Board has determined in good faith) that such Person (or any of its Affiliates or Associates) intends to take, or may consider taking, any action which would result in such Person becoming an Acquiring Person or which would cause the occurrence of a Triggering Event. (b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company ordering the redemption of the Rights, evidence of which shall have been filed with the Rights Agent, 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 (10) 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 Rights Agent and 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 Common Shares. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption will state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made. Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates or Associates may redeem, acquire or purchase for value any Rights at any time in any manner other than that specifically set forth in this Section 23 or in Section 24 hereof, and other than in connection with the purchase of Common Shares prior to the Distribution Date. Section 24. Exchange. (a) Subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations, and subject to subsection (c) below, the Company may, at its option, by majority vote of the Board of Directors and a majority vote of the Continuing Directors, at any time after the occurrence of a Section 11 (a)(ii) Event, exchange all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) for Common Shares at an exchange ratio of a quarter (1/4) share of Common Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the "Ratio of Exchange"). 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 50% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding. (b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 24 and without any further action and 31 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 Ratio of Exchange. The Company shall 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 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 7(e) hereof) held by each holder of Rights. (c) In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common Shares issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit any exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with Section 24(a), the Company shall either take such action as may be necessary to authorize additional Common Shares for issuance upon exchange of the Rights or alternatively, at the option of a majority of the Board of Directors, with respect to each Right (i) pay cash in an amount equal to the Current Value (as hereinafter defined), in lieu of issuing Common Shares in exchange therefor, or (ii) issue debt or equity securities or a combination thereof, having a value equal to the Current Value, in lieu of issuing common Shares in exchange for each such Right, where the value of such securities shall be determined by a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board of Directors by majority vote of the Board of Directors, or (iii) deliver any combination of cash, property, Common Shares and/or other securities having a value equal to the Current Value in exchange for each Right. For purposes of this Section 24(c) only, the Current Value shall mean the product of the Current Per Share Market Price of Common Shares (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) on the date of the occurrence of the event described above in subparagraph (a)) multiplied by the number of quarter (1/4) shares of Common Stock for which the Right otherwise would be exchangeable if there were sufficient shares available. To the extent that the Company determines that some action need be taken pursuant to clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) of this Section 24(c), the Board of Directors may temporarily suspend the exercisability of the Rights for a period of up to sixty (60) days following the date on which the event described in Section 24(a) shall have occurred, in order to seek any authorization of additional Common Shares and/or to decide the appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to the above provision and to determine the value thereof. In the event of any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement, and shall send a written notice to the Rights Agent, stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended. (d) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Common Shares or to distribute certificates that evidence fractional Common Shares. In lieu of such fractional Common Shares, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional Common Shares would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the Current Per Share Market Value of a whole Common Share (as determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section 11(d) hereof). 32 (e) The Company may, at its option, by majority vote of the Board of Directors, at any time before any Person has become an Acquiring Person, exchange all or part of the then outstanding Rights for rights of substantially equivalent value, as determined reasonably and with good faith by the Board of Directors, based upon the advice of one or more nationally recognized investment banking firms. (f) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section 24 and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such Rights shall be to receive that number of rights in exchange therefor as has been determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with subsection (e) above. The Company shall give public notice, and written notice to the Rights Agent, of any such exchange; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity of such exchange. The Company 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 transfer agent for the Common Shares of the Company. 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 Rights will be effected. Section 25. Notice of Certain Events. (a) In case the Company shall propose at any time after the Distribution Date, (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the holders of Common Stock or to make any other distribution to the holders of Common Stock (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend out of earnings or retained earnings of the Company), or (ii) to offer to the holders of Common Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional shares of Common Stock or shares of stock of any class or any other securities, rights or options, or (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Common Stock (other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding shares of Common Stock), or (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger into or with any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), 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 transaction or a series of related transactions, of more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or (v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, then, in each such case, the Company shall give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible and in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the record date for the purpose of such stock dividend, distribution of rights or warrants, or the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Common Stock, 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 twenty (20) days prior to the record date for determining holders of the shares of Common Stock for purposes or such action, and in the case of any such other action, at least twenty (20) days prior to the date of the taking of such 33 proposed action or the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Common Stock, whichever shall be the earlier. (b) In case any Section 11(a)(ii) Event or Section 13 Event shall occur, then, in any such case, the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, and to the Rights Agent, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event, which shall specify the event and the consequences of the event to holders of Rights under Sections 11 (a)(ii) and 13 hereof. Section 26. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights Certificate to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Rights Agent) as follows: Mylex Corporation 34551 Ardenwood Boulevard Fremont, California 94555-3607 Attention: Al Montross, 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 Rights Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Company) as follows: BankBoston, N.A. c/o Boston EquiServe Limited Partnership 435 Tasso Street Palo Alto, California 94301 Attention: Geoffrey Anderson Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or the Rights Agent to or on the holder of any Rights Certificate shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown on the registry books of the Company. Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. Prior to the Distribution Date, the Company may supplement or amend this Agreement in any respect without the approval of any holders of Rights, and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, execute such supplement or amendment. From and after the Distribution Date, the Company and the Rights Agent may from time to time supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of Rights in order to (i) cure any ambiguity, (ii) correct or supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, (iii) shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder (which 34 lengthening or shortening, following the first occurrence of an event set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) of the proviso to Section 23(a) hereof, shall be effective only if there are Continuing Directors and shall require the concurrence of a majority of such Continuing Directors) or (iv) to change or supplement the provisions hereunder in any manner that the Company may deem necessary or desirable and that shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights (other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person); provided, this Agreement may not be supplemented or amended to lengthen, pursuant to clause (iii) of this sentence, (A) a time period relating to when the Rights may be redeemed at such time as the Rights are not then redeemable or (B) any other time period unless such lengthening is for the purpose of protecting, enhancing or clarifying the rights of, and/or the benefits to, the holders of Rights. Upon the delivery of a certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company that states that the proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 27, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment. Prior to the Distribution Date, the interests of the holders of Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests of the holders of Common Shares. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the Rights Agent's consent must be obtained regarding any amendment or supplement pursuant to this Section 27 which alters the Rights Agents rights or duties, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Section 28. Successors. All covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder. Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc. For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of Common Shares outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of determining the particular percentage of such outstanding Common Shares of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the Rules and Regulations. The Board of Directors of the Company (and, where specifically provided for herein, the Continuing Directors) shall have the exclusive power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically granted to the Board, or the Company (or, where specifically provided for herein, the Continuing Directors), or as may be necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this Agreement (including a determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to amend the Agreement). All such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board (or, where specifically provided for herein, by the Continuing Directors) in good faith, shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights Certificates and all other parties and (y) not subject the Board or the Continuing Directors to any liability to the holders of the Rights. 35 Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the Common Shares) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement; this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the Common Shares). Section 31. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or restriction is held by such court or authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable and a majority of the Continuing Directors determines in its good faith judgment that severing the invalid language from this Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or effect of this Agreement, the right of redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof shall be reinstated and shall not expire until the close of business on the tenth day following the date of such determination by the Continuing Directors. Section 32. Governing Law. This Agreement and each Right and each Rights Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely within such State. Section 33. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. Section 34. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the several Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof. 36 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed, all as of the date first above written. MYLEX CORPORATION By: ----------------------------------------- Name: -------------------------------------- Title: --------------------------------------- BANKBOSTON, N.A. (AS RIGHTS AGENT) By: ----------------------------------------- Name: -------------------------------------- Title: --------------------------------------- 37 EXHIBIT A FORM OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE OF MYLEX CORPORATION -A1- FORM OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE Certificate No. R- Rights NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER MAY 23, 2007, OR EARLIER IF TERMINATED BY THE COMPANY. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, AT $0.01 PER RIGHT ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID. [THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT). ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e) OF SUCH RIGHTS AGREEMENT.]* RIGHTS CERTIFICATE This certifies that ______________________, or registered assigns, is the registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, dated as of May 23, 1997 (the "Rights Agreement"), between Mylex Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and BankBoston, N.A., 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 2:00 p.m., California time, on May 23, 2007, at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or at the office of its successor as Rights Agent, a quarter (1/4) share of Common Stock, $0.01 par value, of the Company (the "Common Shares"), at a purchase price initially of $2.65 per quarter (1/4) share of Common Stock (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase and related Certificate duly executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number of shares of Common Stock which may be purchased upon exercise hereof) set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of May 23, 1997, based on the Common Shares as constituted at such date. As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number and kind of shares of Common Stock or other securities which may be purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events. *The portion of the legend in bracket shall be inserted only if applicable and shall replace the preceding sentence. -A2- This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates, which limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement. Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices of the Company and the above-mentioned office of the Rights Agent. Upon the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event (as defined in the Rights Agreement), if the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of any such Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), (ii) a transferee of any such Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate who becomes a transferee after such Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate becomes such, or (iii) under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement, a transferee of any such Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with such Acquiring Person becoming such, such Rights shall become null and void and no holder hereof shall have any right with respect to such Rights from and after the occurrence of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event. Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Company, at its option, at a redemption price of $0.01 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged by the Company in whole or in part for a quarter (1/4) share of Common Stock per Right, substantially equivalent rights or other consideration as determined by the Company. This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates, upon surrender at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate amount of securities as the Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase. If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised. No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued upon the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement. No holder of this Rights Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Common Shares or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or -A3- to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement. This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until it shall have been countersigned by an authorized signatory of the Rights Agent. WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and its corporate seal. Dated as of ___________________, 19_____. MYLEX CORPORATION By: ------------------------------------ Name: ---------------------------------- Title: --------------------------------- BANKBOSTON, N.A. (AS RIGHTS AGENT) By: ------------------------------------ Name: ---------------------------------- Title: --------------------------------- -A4- [FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE] FORM OF ASSIGNMENT (To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires to transfer the Rights Certificate) FOR VALUE RECEIVED__________________________________________ hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto________________________________________________________ (Please print name and address of transferee) ______________________________________________________________________________ this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint___________________________ Attorney, to transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the within-named Company, with full power of substitution. Dated: _____________________, 19_____ ------------------------------------ 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., a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States or any other member of a medallion signature guarantee program approved by the Securities Transfer Association. -A5- CERTIFICATE The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that: (1) this Rights Certificate [ ] is [ ] is not being sold, assigned and transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement); (2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, the undersigned [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person. Dated: ___________________, 19___ ------------------------------------ Signature Signature Guaranteed: NOTICE The signatures to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must conform to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever. Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States or any other member of a medallion signature guarantee program approved by the Securities Transfer Association. In the event the certification set forth above is not completed, the Company will deem the beneficial owner of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and, in the case of an assignment, will affix a legend to that effect on any Rights Certificates issued in exchange for this Rights Certificate. -A6- FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE (To be executed if holder desires to exercise the Rights represented by the Rights Certificate) To: Mylex Corporation The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise __________ Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that certificates for such Common Shares (or other shares, securities or property, as the case may be) be issued in the name of: ____________________________ (Please insert social security or other identifying number) ___________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ (PLEASE PRINT NAME AND ADDRESS) If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance shall be registered in the name of and delivered to: _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ (Please insert social security or other identifying number)____________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ (PLEASE PRINT NAME AND ADDRESS) Dated:________________, 19__ ------------------------------------ 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., a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States or any other member of a medallion signature guarantee program approved by the Securities Transfer Association. -A7- CERTIFICATE The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that: (1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are [ ] are not [ ] being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement); (2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, the undersigned [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person. Dated:__________________, 19__ ------------------------------------ Signature Signature Guaranteed: NOTICE The signatures to the foregoing Election to Purchase and Certificate must conform to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever. Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States or any other member of a medallion signature guarantee program approved by the Securities Transfer Association. In the event the certification set forth above is not completed, the Company will deem the beneficial owner of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and, in the case of an assignment, will affix a legend to that effect on any Rights Certificates issued in exchange for this Rights Certificate. -A8- EXHIBIT B MYLEX CORPORATION SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK -B1- EXHIBIT B MYLEX CORPORATION SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK On May 12, 1997, the Board of Directors of Mylex Corporation (the "Company") authorized the distribution of one common stock purchase right (a "Right") for each outstanding share of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company ("Common Stock") to stockholders of record at the close of business on May 23, 1997 (the "Record Date"). In addition, the Company has authorized the issuance of one Right with respect to each share of Common Stock that shall become outstanding between the Record Date and the earlier of the Distribution Date or Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter defined) or the date, if any, on which the Rights may be redeemed. Each Right, when exercisable, entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company a quarter (1/4) share of Common Stock (or other shares, securities or property, as the case may be, of equivalent value) at a price of $2.65 per share (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 BankBoston, N.A., as Rights Agent. Initially, the Rights will not be exercisable and will be attached to, and evidenced only by, the Common Stock certificates representing the shares of Common Stock then outstanding. The Rights will become exercisable, will separate from the Common Stock, and will become transferrable apart from the Common Stock on a date (the "Distribution Date") that is the earlier of the close of business on the tenth business day following (i) a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an "Acquiring Person") has acquired or obtained the right to acquire, in a transaction or series of transactions not approved by the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"), beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the "Shares Acquisition Date") or (ii) the commencement of a tender or exchange offer by any person (other than the Company or an employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries) for 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption, exchange or expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be transferred with and only with the Common Stock certificates to which the Rights are attached. New Common Stock certificates after the Record Date upon transfer or new issuance of Common Stock will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference, and the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Stock outstanding on or after the Record Date, with or without such notation or a copy of this Summary of Rights being attached thereto, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the shares of Common Stock represented by such certificate. As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights (the "Rights Certificates") will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of the -B2- close of business on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate Rights Certificates alone will evidence the Rights. In the event that at any time following the Distribution Date, (i) the Company is the surviving corporation in a merger with an Acquiring Person and the Company's Common Stock is not changed or exchanged, (ii) a person becomes the beneficial owner of 20% or more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock (except pursuant to an offer for which all outstanding shares of Common Stock which the Continuing Directors (as defined) determine to be fair to and otherwise in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders), (iii) an Acquiring Person engages in one or more "self dealing" transactions as set forth in the Rights Agreement, or (iv) during such time as there is an Acquiring Person, an event occurs which results in such Acquiring Person's ownership interest being increased by more than 1% (e.g., a reverse stock split), each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise and payment of the Purchase Price, Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or other securities of the Company, subject to certain limitations) having a value equal to two times the Purchase Price of the Right. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all Rights that are, under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement were, beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person (or any of its affiliates or associates, as defined) will be null and void. The Rights are, however, not exercisable following the occurrence of any of the events set forth above until such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable by the Company. For example, at a Purchase Price of $2.65 per Right, each Right not owned by an Acquiring Person (or certain related parties) following an event described in the preceding paragraph would entitle its holder to purchase $5.30 worth of Common Stock (or other consideration) as noted above, for $2.65. Assuming that the Common Stock had a per share value of $10.60 at such time, the holder of each valid Right would be entitled to purchase one-half (1/2) share of Common Stock for $2.65. In the event that at any time following the Share Acquisition Date, (i) the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction in which the Company is not the surviving Corporation, or (ii) 50 percent or more of the Company's assets or earning power is sold or transferred, each holder of a Right (except Rights which previously have been voided as set forth above) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise thereof and payment of the then current Purchase Price, Common Stock of the acquiring company having a value equal to two times the Purchase Price of the Right. The Purchase Price payable, and the number of shares of Common Stock (or the number and kind of other securities or property, as the case may be) 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 Common Stock, (ii) upon the grant to owners of the Common Stock of certain rights or warrants to subscribe for Common Stock or convertible securities at less than the current market price of the Common Stock, or (iii) upon the distribution of holders of the Common Stock of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular quarterly cash dividends or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above)). At any time after a -B3- person or group of affiliated or associated person becomes an acquiring person, an until the beneficial ownership level of such acquiring person, together with all affiliates and associates of such acquiring person, reaches 50 percent, the Board of Directors may exchange the Rights (other than the Rights held by the acquiring person, affiliates or associates of the acquiring person and certain other persons whose Rights can be traced to an acquiring person) in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of a quarter (1/4) share of the Common Stock per Right. The exchange must also be approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors. At any time prior to the close of business on the 10th business day following the Share Acquisition Date, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole but not in part at a redemption price of $0.01 per Right. Under certain circumstances, the redemption must also be approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors. Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors electing to redeem the Rights, with, where required, the concurrence of the Continuing Directors, the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the redemption price. With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required until accumulative adjustments amount to at least 1 percent of the Purchase Price. No fractional shares will be issued and in lieu thereof an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the Common Stock on the last trading day prior to the date of exercise. The term "Continuing Directors" means any member of the Board of Directors of the Company who was a member of the Board prior to the date of the Rights Agreement, and any person who is subsequently elected to the Board if such person is recommended or approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors, but shall not include an Acquiring Person or an affiliate or associate of an Acquiring Person or any representative of the foregoing entities. Until the Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends. At any time prior to the Distribution Date, the Board of Directors may amend any provision of the Rights Agreement in any manner, including to change the Purchase Price, without the approval of the holders of the Common Stock. Thereafter, subject to certain limitations, the Board of Directors (with the concurrence of the Continuing Directors) may amend the Rights Agreement without the approval of the holders of the Common Stock in order to cure any ambiguity, to make changes which do not adversely affect the interest of holders of Rights (excluding the interest of any acquiring person), or to shorten or lengthen any time period under the Rights Agreement. A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated June 11, 1997. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the Company. This summary description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. -B4- -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----