-----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, BY8hG57iQi381H3glEXF9l0yg9j2cAwyVneEjjKWC+4ux56sD2pVpkg7A6YZdJyo e5gjTEBQOeNL3lHDMLQXcg== /in/edgar/work/20000728/0000899652-00-000068/0000899652-00-000068.txt : 20000921 0000899652-00-000068.hdr.sgml : 20000921 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000899652-00-000068 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: U-1 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 4 FILED AS OF DATE: 20000728 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: CINERGY CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000899652 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: [4931 ] IRS NUMBER: 311385023 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: U-1 SEC ACT: SEC FILE NUMBER: 070-09731 FILM NUMBER: 681338 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 139 E FOURTH ST CITY: CINCINNATI STATE: OH ZIP: 45202 BUSINESS PHONE: 5132872644 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 139 E FOURTH STREET STREET 2: P.O BOX 960 CITY: CINCINATI STATE: OH ZIP: 45202 U-1 1 0001.txt FORM U-1 File No. 70- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 450 FIFTH STREET WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 __________________________________________ FORM U-1 APPLICATION-DECLARATION UNDER THE PUBLIC UTILITY HOLDING COMPANY ACT OF 1935 ____________________________________________ Cinergy Corp. 139 East Fourth Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 (Name of company filing this statement and address of principal executive offices) Cinergy Corp. (Name of top registered holding company) William J. Grealis George Dwight II Vice President/Chief Strategic Officer Senior Counsel Cinergy Corp. Cinergy Corp. 139 East Fourth Street, 29AT2 139 East Fourth Street, 25AT2 Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 William C. Weeden Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP 1440 New York Avenue, N. W. Washington, DC 20005 (Name and address of agents for service) Item 1. Description of Proposed Transactions A. Introduction; Requested Authorization Cinergy Corp., a registered public utility holding company ("Cinergy"), seeks Commission authorization under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended (the "Act"), to adopt and implement a shareholder rights plan (the "Plan"). Pursuant to the Plan, the Board of Directors (the "Board") of Cinergy intends to declare a dividend of one right (a "Right") for each outstanding share of Cinergy Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), payable to shareholders of record on the tenth business day after receipt of the authorization herein requested (the "Record Date"). As of April 30, 2000, there were approximately 159 million shares of Common Stock outstanding. The Rights will be created by and issued pursuant to a Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement"), between Cinergy and The Fifth Third Bank, an Ohio banking corporation, as Rights Agent. More specifically, Cinergy herein seeks authorization under the Act to implement the Plan and the Rights Agreement, including, among other actions permitted by the Rights Agreement, the following transactions: (1) The dividend distribution of the Rights; (2) The making of adjustments to the Exercise Price (defined below), and the issuance and sale of Common Stock or the transfer of other assets upon exercise of the Rights; (3) The redemption of Rights; and (4) Amending the Rights Agreement from time to time as described herein. B. Background: Shareholder Rights Plans Shareholder rights plans have become a widely accepted means to maximize shareholder value by reducing the risk of nonrealization of shareholder value due to opportunistic acquisition proposals. A fundamental purpose of these plans is to encourage potential acquirors to negotiate with the Board. And having such a plan in place may enhance the probability that a competing offer will emerge. More than 2,000 companies have adopted rights plans, including a majority of the Fortune 500 companies and more than 40 utility companies. The Commission has issued numerous orders authorizing registered public utility holding companies to adopt rights plans similar to the instant Plan./1/ The Rights Agreement is appropriate and necessary to preserve, in the event of an attempted takeover, Cinergy's value for its shareholders. It is designed to deter attempts to acquire Cinergy in a manner or on terms which the Board determines are not in the best interests of all shareholders. Specifically, the Rights Agreement is intended to: (i) reduce the risk of two-tiered, front-end loaded tender offers or partial tender offers which may not offer fair and equal value to all shareholders of Cinergy; (ii) deter potential accumulators of Cinergy's shares who (through open market and/or private purchases) may achieve a position of substantial influence, or even control, without paying to the selling or remaining shareholders of Cinergy an appropriate control premium for their shares; (iii) deter potential accumulators of Cinergy's shares who are only interested in putting Cinergy into "play"; and (iv) preserve for Cinergy's Board maximum bargaining power and flexibility to deal with hostile acquirors in order to be in a position to maximize value for all shareholders. The Rights Agreement attempts to achieve these goals by confronting a potential acquiror of more than 10% of Cinergy's outstanding Common Stock with the possibility that Cinergy's shareholders, by exercising their Rights, will be able to increase substantially such acquiror's cost of acquiring Cinergy. The Plan would not, however, make Cinergy "acquisition-proof" nor preclude a proxy contest. Shareholder rights plans in general and this Plan in particular protect against takeover abuses, give all interested parties an increased period of time in which to make decisions on fundamental matters such as a takeover, and strengthen the ability of the Board to fulfill its fiduciary duties in considering an acquisition offer that gives maximum long-term value to the holders of the Common Stock. For all of these reasons, Cinergy believes that the Plan, including the adoption of the Rights Agreement and the distribution of the Rights to Cinergy's shareholders, provides appropriate protections for shareholders from the takeover abuses discussed above. C. Description of Plan 1. Exercise Price The Rights created under the Rights Agreement would entitle the holders thereof to purchase one share of Common Stock at a price of $100 per whole share of Common Stock (the "Exercise Price"), subject to adjustment. Initially, the Rights would not be exercisable and would trade with the outstanding shares of Common Stock. Upon the occurrence of the triggering events described below, the Rights would become exercisable and certificates representing the Rights would be distributed and would trade independently of such outstanding shares. However, the Rights would not entitle the holders thereof to make a discounted purchase of shares of Cinergy's Common Stock or of the common stock of the person proposing to acquire Cinergy until the occurrence of either of the events described below under "Discount Purchase Right." 2. Distribution Events The Rights would become exercisable (i.e., Common Stock could be purchased at the Exercise Price pursuant to the Rights) upon the earlier to occur of (such date, the "Distribution Date") (i) 10 business days after the first public announcement that any person or group (an "Acquiring Person") has without the Board's prior consent acquired beneficial ownership of 10% or more of Cinergy's outstanding Common Stock ("Acquisition Event") and (ii) 10 business days (unless extended by the Board) after any person or group has commenced a tender or exchange offer which would, upon its consummation, result in such person or group becoming an Acquiring Person ("Offer Event"). 3. Discount Purchase Right After the Distribution Date, if an Acquisition Event has occurred, the holders of the Rights (other than an Acquiring Person and certain transferees thereof, whose Rights will become void) would immediately have the right to receive (subject to the effectiveness of an appropriate registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933), for each Right exercised, Common Stock having a market value equal to two times the Exercise Price then in effect ("Discount Purchase Right"). In the event that, following an Acquisition Event, (i) Cinergy is acquired by another person or entity not controlled by Cinergy ("Acquiror") in a merger or other business combination transaction in which Cinergy is not the continuing or surviving entity, (ii) an Acquiror consolidates or merges into Cinergy in a merger or other business combination transaction in which Cinergy is the continuing or surviving entity and, in connection with the transaction, all or part of the Common Stock is changed into or exchanged for property, or (iii) 50% or more of Cinergy's consolidated assets or earning power is sold or transferred to an Acquiror, each holder of a Right (except Rights which previously have been voided as set forth above) will thereafter be entitled to receive, for each Right exercised, common stock of the Acquiror or other appropriate party having a market value equal to two times the Exercise Price then in effect. 4. Redemption of Rights The Rights may be redeemed, as a whole, at a Redemption Price of $0.01 per Right, subject to adjustment, at the direction of the Board, which Redemption Price shall be paid at Cinergy's option, in cash, shares of Common Stock or other appropriate form of consideration, at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the close of business on the date that any person has become an Acquiring Person and (ii) the date of final expiration of the Rights. The Rights will expire at the close of business ten years from the date of the Rights Agreement, unless earlier redeemed or exchanged by Cinergy as described below. 5. Adjustments to Exercise Price The Exercise Price payable, and the number of shares of Common Stock (or other securities, 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 holders of the Common Stock of certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock or convertible securities at less than the then current market price of Common Stock or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Common Stock of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends or dividends payable in Common Stock) or of subscription rights or warrants. Prior to the date on which the Rights become exercisable, the Board may make such equitable adjustments as it deems appropriate in the circumstances in lieu of any adjustment otherwise required by the foregoing. With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Exercise Price will be required until the time at which cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in such Exercise Price. No fractional shares of Common Stock 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 date prior to the date of exercise. 6. Amendments The terms of the Rights may be amended by the Board (i) prior to the Distribution Date in any manner, and (ii) on or after the Distribution Date to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision of the Rights Agreement which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions, or in any manner not adversely affecting the interests of the holders of the Rights (including the interests of any Acquiring Person) or, subject to certain limitations, to shorten or lengthen any time period under the Rights Agreement. The terms of the Rights may not be amended at a time when the Rights are not redeemable. Item 2. Fees, Commissions and Expenses The fees, commissions, and expenses paid or to be paid or incurred by Applicant or any associate company thereof in connection with the proposed transactions are estimated as follows: Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom $45,000 Rights Agent $ 5,000 TOTAL $50,000 Item 3. Applicable Statutory Provisions Sections 6(a), 7, 9(a), 10 and 12(c) of the Act and Rules 42 and 54 thereunder are or may be applicable to the proposed transactions./2/ Rule 54 provides that in determining whether to approve the issue or sale of a security by a registered holding company for purposes other than the acquisition of an exempt wholesale generator (as defined in section 32 of the Act, "EWG") or a foreign utility company (as defined in section 33 of the Act, "FUCO"), or other transactions by such registered holding company or its subsidiaries other than with respect to EWGs or FUCOs, the Commission shall not consider the effect of the capitalization or earnings of any subsidiary which is an EWG or a FUCO upon the registered holding company if paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of Rule 53 are satisfied. Cinergy currently does not meet the conditions of Rule 53(a). As of March 31, 2000, Cinergy's "aggregate investment," as defined in Rule 53(a)(1), in EWGs and FUCOs was approximately $607.8 million. This amount is equal to approximately 58% of Cinergy's average "consolidated retained earnings," also as defined in Rule 53(a)(1), for the four quarters ended March 31, 2000, of approximately $1055.8 million, which exceeds the 50% "safe harbor" limitation contained in the rule. By order dated March 23, 1998 (HCAR No. 26848) ("1998 Order"), the Commission authorized Cinergy to increase its aggregate investment in EWGs and FUCOs to an amount equal to 100% of Cinergy's average "consolidated retained earnings." By order dated June 23, 2000 (HCAR No. 27190) ("2000 Order"), the Commission granted Cinergy additional authorization to invest in EWGs and FUCOs beyond that granted in the 1998 Order specifically, $1 billion in addition to Cinergy's aggregate investment at the date of such order. Although Cinergy's aggregate investment at March 31, 2000 exceeds the 50% "safe harbor" limitation, this investment is below the limitation authorized by the 1998 and 2000 Orders. With respect to capitalization, there has been no material adverse impact on Cinergy's consolidated capitalization resulting from Cinergy's investments in EWGs and FUCOs. As of September 30, 1997, the most recent period for which financial statement information was evaluated in the 1998 Order, Cinergy's consolidated capitalization consisted of 44.1% equity and 55.9% debt. As of March 31, 2000, Cinergy's consolidated capitalization consisted of 43.5 % equity and 56.5% debt. These ratios are within acceptable ranges, as further reflected by the fact that at March 31, 2000 Cinergy's senior unsecured debt was rated "investment grade" by all the major rating agencies. The impact of the proposed transactions upon Cinergy's consolidated capitalization will be insubstantial. With respect to earnings, Cinergy's interests in EWGs and FUCOs have made consistent and significant contributions to Cinergy's consolidated retained earnings, as reflected in the quarterly certificates filed by Cinergy in Docket No. 70-9011. Although Cinergy's consolidated earnings for the year ended December 31, 1997 were negatively affected by Cinergy's 50% ownership interest in Midlands Electricity plc ("Midlands"), a FUCO, this was solely as a result of the imposition by the United Kingdom of a one-time, non-recurring windfall tax. Significantly, this tax did not affect earnings from ongoing operations, and therefore would not have any negative impact on earnings in future periods. In July 1999, Cinergy sold all of its ownership in Midlands, realizing a substantial profit. Cinergy satisfies all of the other conditions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of Rule 53. With reference to Rule 53(a)(2), Cinergy maintains books and records in conformity with, and otherwise adheres to, the requirements thereof. With reference to Rule 53(a)(3), no more than 2% of the employees of Cinergy's domestic public utility companies render services, at any one time, directly or indirectly, to EWGs or FUCOs in which Cinergy directly or indirectly holds an interest. With reference to Rule 53(a)(4), Cinergy will concurrently provide a copy of this application to each regulator referred to therein, and will otherwise comply with the requirements thereof concerning the furnishing of information. With reference to Rule 53(b), none of the circumstances enumerated in subparagraphs (1), (2) and (3) thereunder have occurred. Finally, Rule 53(c) by its terms is inapplicable since the proposed transactions do not involve the issue or sale of a security to finance the acquisition of an EWG or FUCO. Item 4. Regulatory Approval The proposed transactions are not subject to the jurisdiction of any state or federal commission other than this Commission. Item 5. Procedure Applicant requests that the Commission issue an order as soon as practicable after the expiration of the applicable public notice period granting and permitting this Application-Declaration to become effective. Applicant waives a recommended decision by a hearing officer or other responsible officer of the Commission; consents that the Staff of the Division of Investment Management may assist in the preparation of the Commission's order; and requests that there be no waiting period between the issuance of the Commission's order and its effectiveness. Item 6. Exhibits and Financial Statements (a) Exhibits A-1 Certificate of incorporation of Cinergy (incorporated by reference from Cinergy's 1993 Form 10-K in File No. 1-11377) A-2 By-laws of Cinergy, as amended on April 21, 1999 (incorporated by reference from Cinergy's March 31, 1999 Form 10-Q in File No. 1-11377) A-3 Form of Rights Agreement, dated July ____, 2000, between Cinergy and The Fifth Third Bank, as Rights Agent B Not applicable C Not applicable D Not applicable E Not applicable F-1 Preliminary Opinion of Counsel G Form of Federal Register Notice Financial Statements NOTE: Cinergy corporate and consolidated actual and pro forma financial statements are omitted since the proposed transactions will not have a material impact thereon. Item 7. Information as to Environmental Effects (a) The proposed transactions are designed to assist Cinergy's Board in responding to an unsolicited takeover. Consequently, the Commission's action in this matter will not constitute any major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. (b) No other federal agency has prepared or is preparing an environmental impact statement with regard to the proposed transactions. SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, the undersigned company has duly caused this Application-Declaration on Form U-1 to be signed on its behalf by the officer indicated below. Dated: July 28, 2000 Cinergy Corp. By: /s/William J. Grealis Vice President & Chief Strategic Officer ENDNOTES /1/ See HCAR Nos. 27052, July 23, 1999 (Allegheney Energy, Inc.); 27013, April 30, 1999 (Northeast Utilities); 26965, January 15, 1999 (Interstate Energy Corp.); 26961, December 29, 1998 (Ameren Corp.); 26861, April 22, 1998 (Conectiv, Inc.); 26797, December 19, 1997 (Central and South West Corp.); 26751, August 1, 1997 (New Century Energies, Inc.); 26532, June 12, 1996 (National Fuel Gas Co.); 26434, December 19, 1995 (Consolidated Natural Gas Co.). /2/ Cinergy shareholder approval is not required for the adoption of the Plan inasmuch as Cinergy does not intend to increase the number of shares of Common Stock (600,000,000) authorized by its certificate of incorporation. Accordingly, Commission authorization to solicit proxies under Section 12(e) is not being requested. EX-99.A 2 0002.txt EXHIBIT A-3 CINERGY CORP. And THE FIFTH THIRD BANK, Rights Agent ______________ Rights Agreement Dated as of July __, 2000 RIGHTS AGREEMENT RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of July __, 2000 (the "Agreement" or "Rights Agreement"), between Cinergy Corp., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and The Fifth Third Bank, an Ohio banking corporation, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent"). W I T N E S S E T H WHEREAS, on July __, 2000 (the "Rights Dividend Declaration Date"), the Board of Directors of the Company authorized and granted to each holder of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock"), outstanding at the close of business on the tenth Business Day following the first public announcement by the Company of receipt of approval of the dividend and this Rights Agreement by the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (the "Record Date") the option and right to purchase, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth, one share of Common Stock for each share of Common Stock so held on the Record Date at an initial purchase price of $100.00 per share, subject to adjustment as provided hereinafter (such options and rights are hereinafter referred to as the "Rights") and also authorized and granted one Right for each share of Common Stock issued or delivered (whether originally issued or delivered from treasury) between the Record Date and the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in Section 3 hereof); NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows: Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings indicated: (a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (as such term is hereinafter defined) who or which, together with all Affiliates (as such term is hereinafter defined) and Associates (as such term is hereinafter defined) of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner (as such term is hereinafter defined) of ten percent (10%) or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, but shall not include (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary of the Company, (iii) any employee benefit plan or employee stock plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, (iv) the dividend reinvestment plan of the Company, (v) any Person or entity organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan, (vi) any Person who becomes the Beneficial owner of ten percent (10%) or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding as a result of a reduction in the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding due to the repurchase of shares of Common Stock by the Company unless and until such Person, after becoming aware that such Person has become the Beneficial Owner of ten percent (10%) or more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock, acquires beneficial ownership of additional shares of Common Stock representing one percent (1%) or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, or (vii) any such Person who has reported or is required to report such ownership (but less than 20%) on Schedule 13G under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and in effect on the date of the Agreement (the "Exchange Act") (or any comparable or successor report) or on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report) which Schedule 13D does not state any intention to or reserve the right to control or influence the management or policies of the Company or engage in any of the actions specified in Item 4 of such schedule (other than the disposition of the Common Stock) and, within 10 Business Days of being requested by the Company to advise it regarding the same, certifes to the Company that such Person acquired shares of Common Stock in excess of 9.9% inadvertently or without knowledge of the terms of the Rights and who, together with all Affiliates and Associates, thereafter does not acquire additional shares of Common Stock while the Beneficial Owner of 10% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding; provided, however, that if the Person requested to so certify fails to do so within 10 Business Days, then such Person shall become an Acquiring Person immediately after such 10-Business-Day period. (b) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, as in effect on the date of this Agreement. (c) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, and shall be deemed to "beneficially own," any securities: (i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially own," (A) securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange, (B) securities issuable upon exercise of Rights at any time prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event, or (C) securities issuable upon exercise of Rights from and after the occurrence of a Triggering Event which Rights were acquired by such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates prior to the Distribution Date or pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section 22 hereof (the "Original Rights") or pursuant to Section 11(i) hereof in connection with an adjustment made with respect to any Original Rights; (ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to vote or dispose of or has "beneficial ownership" of (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act and any successor provision thereof), including pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially own," any security under this subparagraph (ii) as a result of an agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such security if such agreement, arrangement or understanding: (A) arises solely from a revocable proxy given in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable provisions of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, and (B) is not also then reportable by such Person on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report); or (iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) with which such Person (or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates) has any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing), for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable proxy as described in the proviso to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph (c)) or disposing of any voting securities of the Company; provided, however, that nothing in this paragraph (c) shall cause a Person engaged in business as an underwriter of securities to be the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially own," any securities acquired through such Person's participation in good faith in a firm commitment underwriting (pursuant to an underwriting agreement with the Company) until the expiration of forty (40) days after the date of such acquisition, and then only if such securities continue to be owned by such Person at such expiration of forty days. (d) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close. (e) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M., Eastern time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business Day, it shall mean 5:00 P.M., Eastern time, on the next succeeding Business Day. (f) "Common Stock" shall mean the Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company, except that "Common Stock" when used with reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean the capital stock of such Person with the greatest voting power, or the equity securities or other equity interest having power to control or direct the management, of such Person. (g) "Current Market Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(d) hereof. (h) "Current Value" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof. (i) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) hereof. (j) "Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a) hereof. (k) "Final Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a) hereof. (l) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, partnership or other entity. (m) "Principal Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(b) hereof. (n) "Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof. (o) "Qualified Offer" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof. (p) "Record Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the WHEREAS clause at the beginning of this Agreement. (q) "Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in the WHEREAS clause at the beginning of this Agreement. (r) "Rights Agent" shall have the meaning set forth in the parties clause at the beginning of this Agreement. (s) "Rights Certificate" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) hereof. (t) "Rights Dividend Declaration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the WHEREAS clause at the beginning of this Agreement. (u) "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean any event described in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof. (v) "Section 13(a) Event" shall mean any event described in clauses (x), (w) or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof. (x) "Spread" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof. (y) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include, without limitation, a report filed or amended pursuant to Section 13(d) under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report)) by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such other than pursuant to a Qualified Offer. (z) "Subsidiary" shall mean, with reference 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 which is otherwise controlled by such Person. (aa) "Substitution Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof. (ab) "Summary of Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(b) hereof. (ac) "Trading Day" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(d) hereof. (ad) "Triggering Event" shall mean any Section 11(a)(ii) Event or any Section 13(a) Event. Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the Rights (who, in accordance with Section 3 hereof, shall prior to the Distribution Date also be the holders of the Common Stock) in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company may from time to time appoint such co-rights agents as it may deem necessary or desirable. Section 3. Issuance of Rights Certificates. (a) Until the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the tenth day after the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the tenth day after the Stock Acquisition Date occurs before the Record Date, the Close of Business on the Record Date) or (ii) the Close of Business on the tenth Business Day (or such later date as may be determined by the Company's Board of Directors) 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 or employee stock 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 General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, if upon consummation thereof, such Person would become an Acquiring Person, other than pursuant to a Qualified Offer (the earlier of (i) and (ii) being herein referred to as the "Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will be evidenced (subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 3) by the certificates for the Common Stock registered in the names of the holders of the Common Stock (which certificates for Common Stock shall be deemed also to be certificates for Rights) and not by separate certificates, and (y) the Rights will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of the underlying shares of Common Stock (including a transfer to the Company). As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Company shall prepare and execute and the Rights Agent will countersign, and the Rights Agent, if requested by the Company, will send by first-class, postage prepaid mail, to each record holder of the Common Stock as of the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company, one or more rights certificates, in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto (the "Rights Certificates"), evidencing one Right for each share of Common Stock so held, subject to adjustment as provided herein. As of and after the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Rights Certificates. (b) The Company will make available a copy of a Summary of Rights, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the "Summary of Rights") to any holder of Rights who may so request from time to time. With respect to certificates for the Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date or issued subsequent to the Record Date, unless and until the Distribution Date shall occur, the Rights will be evidenced by such certificates for the Common Stock and the registered holders of the Common Stock shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights. Until the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date (as such term is defined in Section 7 hereof), the transfer of any certificates representing shares of Common Stock in respect of which Rights have been issued shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with such shares of Common Stock. (c) Rights shall be issued in respect of all shares of Common Stock which are issued (whether originally issued or from the Company's treasury) after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date. Certificates issued after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date upon the transfer or new issuance of Common Stock 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 the Rights Agreement between Cinergy Corp. and the Rights Agent thereunder (the "Rights Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal offices of Cinergy Corp. 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. Cinergy Corp. will mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement, as in effect on the date of mailing, without charge promptly 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 Affiliates or Associates 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. 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 Stock represented by such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone and registered holders of Common Stock shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights, and the transfer of any of such certificates shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates. Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates. (a) The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall each be substantially in the form set forth in 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 and on their face shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number of Common Stock as shall be set forth therein at the price per share set forth therein (the "Purchase Price"), but the number of shares purchasable upon the exercise of each Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein. (b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a), Section 11(i) or Section 22 hereof that represents Rights beneficially owned by: (i) an Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate thereof, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom such Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board of Directors of the Company has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect avoidance of Section 7(e) hereof, 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 thereof (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 the Rights Agreement. Section 5. Countersignature and Registration. (a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board of Directors, its President or any Vice President, either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall have affixed thereto the Company's seal or a facsimile thereof which shall be attested by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, either manually or by facsimile signature. The Rights Certificates shall be countersigned by the Rights Agent, either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall not be valid for any purpose unless so countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the 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 principal office or offices designated as the appropriate place for surrender of Rights Certificates upon exercise or transfer, 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 Certificate number of the Rights Certificate, 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 Section 4(b), Section 7(e) and Section 14 hereof, at any time after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and at or prior to the Close of Business on the Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate or Certificates may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Certificates, entitling the registered holder to purchase (or receive) a like 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 Certificates surrendered then entitles such holder (or former holder in the case of a transfer) to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Rights Certificate or Certificates shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Rights Certificate or Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered Rights Certificate until the registered holder shall have completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of assignment set forth on the reverse side of each 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 Section 4(b), Section 7(e) and Section 14 hereof, countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Rights Certificates. (b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Rights Certificate, and, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to them, and 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 execute and deliver a new Rights Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and delivery to the registered owner 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 including, without limitation, the restrictions on exercisability set forth in Section 9(c), Section 11(a)(iii) and Section 23(a) hereof) 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 set forth on the reverse side thereof and the certificate contained therein duly executed, to the Rights Agent at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, together with payment of the Purchase Price with respect to each surrendered Right for the total number of shares (or other securities or property, as the case may be) as to which such surrendered Rights are exercisable, at or prior to the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on July___ , [2010], or such later date as may be established by the Board of Directors prior to the expiration of the Rights (such date, as it may be extended by the Board, (the "Final Expiration Date"), or (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof (the earlier of (i) or (ii) being herein referred to as the "Expiration Date"). (b) The Purchase Price for each share of Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be $100.00, and shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections 11 and 13(a) hereof and shall be payable in accordance with paragraph (c) below. (c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase set forth on the reverse side thereof and the certificate contained therein duly executed, accompanied by payment, with respect to each Right so exercised, of the Purchase Price for the shares (or other shares, securities or property, as the case may be) to be purchased as set forth below and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax, the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 20(k) hereof, thereupon promptly (i) requisition from any transfer agent of the Common Stock (or make available, if the Rights Agent is the transfer agent for the Common Stock) certificates for the total number of shares of Common Stock to be purchased and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with all such requests subject to applicable law, (ii) requisition from the Company the amount of cash, if any, to be paid in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock in accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii) after receipt of such certificates of Common Stock, 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) after receipt thereof, deliver such cash, if any, 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 pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof) may be made in cash or by certified bank check or money order 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 and 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, 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, any Rights beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate thereof, (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 or 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), 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 insure 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 other Person as a result of its failure to make any determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate, Associate or transferee thereof 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 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 any of its agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in cancelled form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be cancelled by it, and no Rights Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and retire, any other Rights Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all cancelled Rights Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request of the Company, destroy such cancelled Rights Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company. Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Common Stock. (a) The Company covenants and agrees that from the time that the Rights first become exercisable and except as provided in Section 11(a)(iii) or in the following sentence, the Company will cause to be reserved and kept available for issuance upon exercise of the Rights out of its authorized and unissued Common Stock or Common Stock held in its treasury, all shares of Common Stock which are not reserved for other purposes. The foregoing notwithstanding, if at the time the Rights first become exercisable (other than as a result of a Triggering Event), the sum of the number of authorized, but unissued shares of Common Stock and the number of shares of Common Stock held in treasury (including for this purpose the number of authorized, but unissued shares or treasury shares reserved for issuance upon exercise of the Rights) minus the number of shares of Common Stock (whether authorized, but unissued shares or treasury shares) reserved for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights is not sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Rights for Common Stock, each Right shall thereafter be exercisable for a fraction of a share of Common Stock and such other consideration designated by the Board of Directors of the Company which the Board of Directors of the Company has determined, based on the advice of a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board of Directors of the Company, to have a value equal to the Common Stock (or fraction thereof) for which the Right may otherwise have been exercisable. Common Stock shall not be deemed reserved hereunder and, as such, unavailable for other purposes, unless and until the Rights first become exercisable. The provisions of this Section 9(a) shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with Section 11(a)(iii). (b) So long as the Common Stock issuable and deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights may be listed on any national securities exchange, the Company shall use its reasonable efforts to cause, from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable and the Company reasonably anticipates that a Right may be exercised, all shares reserved for such issuance to be listed on such exchange upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise. (c) The Company shall use its reasonable efforts to (i) file, as soon as practicable following the earliest date after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event on which the consideration to be delivered by the Company upon exercise of the Rights has been determined in accordance with Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, or as soon as is required by law or regulation 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 Common Stock or other 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 date of the expiration of the Rights. The Company will also take such action as may be appropriate under, or to ensure compliance with, the securities or "blue sky" laws of the various states in connection with the exercisability of the Rights. The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to exceed ninety (90) days after the date set forth in clause (i) of the first sentence of this Section 9(c), 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 that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. In addition, if the Company shall determine that a registration statement is required following the Distribution Date, the Company may temporarily suspend the exercisability of the Rights until such time as a registration statement has been declared effective. Notwithstanding an provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction if the requisite qualification in such jurisdiction has not been obtained, the exercise thereof is not permitted under applicable law or a registration statement has not been declared effective. (d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action as may be necessary to ensure that all Common Stock delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for such shares (subject to payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and nonassessable. (e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges which may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Rights Certificates and of any certificates for Common Stock (or other securities, as the case may be), upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any transfer tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates to a Person other than, or the issuance or delivery of the Common Stock (or other securities, as the case may be) in respect of a name other than that of, the registered holder of the Rights Certificates evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or deliver any certificates for Common Stock (or other securities, as the case may be) in a name other than that of the registered holder upon the exercise of any Rights until 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 Stock Record Date. Each Person in whose name any certificate for Common Stock (or other securities, as the case may be) is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the Common Stock (or other securities, as the case may be) represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price (and all applicable transfer taxes) was made; provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Common Stock (or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the Company are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such shares on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the Common Stock (or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the Company are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a Rights Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to shares for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends or other distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein. Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number and kind of shares covered by each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 11. (a)(i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the Record Date (A) declare a dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, (C) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of 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), 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 and kind of shares of Common Stock (or other capital stock, as the case may be) issuable on such date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised after such time shall be entitled to receive, upon payment of the Purchase Price then in effect, the aggregate number and kind of shares of Common Stock (or other capital stock, as the case may be) which, if such Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date and at a time when the Common Stock (or other capital stock, as the case may be) transfer books of the Company were open, such holder would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification; provided, however, that if the record date for any such dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification shall occur prior to the Distribution Date, the Company shall make an appropriate adjustment to the Purchase Price (taking into account any additional Rights which may be issued as a result of such dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification), in lieu of adjusting (as described above) the number of shares of Common Stock (or other capital stock, as the case may be) issuable upon exercise of the Rights. 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 any Person, alone or together with its Affiliates and Associates, shall, at any time after the date hereof, become an Acquiring Person, unless the event causing such Person to become an Acquiring Person is a transaction set forth in Section 13(a) hereof, or is an acquisition of shares of Common Stock pursuant to a tender offer or exchange offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock at a price and on terms determined by at least a majority of the members of the Board of Directors who are not officers of the Company and who are not representatives, nominees, Affiliates or Associates of an Acquiring Person, after receiving advice from one or more investment banking firms, to be (a) at a price that is fair to the stockholders and not inadequate (taking into account all factors that such members of the Board of Directors of the Company deem relevant including, without limitation, prices which could reasonably be achieved if the Company or its assets were sold on an orderly basis designed to realize maximum value) and (b) otherwise in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders (a "Qualified Offer"), then, promptly following the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right (except as provided below and in Section 7(e) hereof) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such number of shares of Common Stock of the Company as shall equal the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the then number of shares of Common Stock for which a Right was exercisable by such holder immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, and (y) dividing that product (such product, following such first occurrence, shall be referred to as the "Purchase Price" for each Right and for all purposes of this Agreement) by 50% of the Current Market Price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) pe share of Common Stock on the date of such first occurrence (such number of shares is herein called the "Adjustment Shares"). (iii) In the event that the sum of the number of authorized, but unissued shares of Common Stock and the number of shares of Common Stock held in treasury (including for this purpose the number of authorized, but unissued or treasury shares reserved for issuance upon exercise of the Rights) minus the number of shares of Common Stock (whether authorized, but unissued shares or treasury shares) reserved for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights is not sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii) of this Section 11(a), the Company 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, 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) Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company (including, without limitation, preferred shares, or units of preferred shares, which the Board of Directors of the Company, based on the advice of a nationally recognized investment banking firm, has deemed to be substantially economically equivalent to the Common Stock (such preferred shares, "Common 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 the Board of Directors of the Company based upon the advice of a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board of Directors of the Company; provided, however, if the Company shall not have made adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above within thirty (30) days following the later of (x) 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, shares of Common Stock (to the extent available) and then, if necessary, cash, which in the aggregate are equal to the Spread. If the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine in good faith that it is likely that sufficient additional shares of Common Stock could be authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights, the thirty (30) day period set forth above may be extended to the extent necessary, but not more than ninety (90) days following the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date, in order that the Company may seek shareholder approval for the authorization of such additional shares (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)(iii), 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 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 that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. For purposes of this Sectio 11(a)(iii), the value of the Common Stock shall be the Current Market Price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Common Stock on a 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 Stock on such date. (b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of rights (other than the Rights), options or warrants to all holders of Common Stock entitling them to subscribe for or purchase (for a period expiring within forty-five (45) calendar days after such record date) Common Stock, shares having the same rights, privileges and preference as the Common Stock ("Equivalent Common Stock") or securities convertible into Common Stock or Equivalent Common Stock at a price per share of Common Stock or Equivalent Common Stock (or having a conversion price per share, if a security convertible into Common Stock or Equivalent Common Stock) less than the Current Market Price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Common Stock on such record date, the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on such record date plus the number of shares of Common Stock which the aggregate offering price of the total number of shares of Common Stock and/or Equivalent Common Stock so to be offered (and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities so to be offered) would purchase at such Current Market Price and the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on such record date plus the number of additional shares of Common Stock and/or Equivalent Common Stock to be offered for subscription of purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be offered are initially convertible). In case such subscription price may be paid by delivery of consideration part or all of which may 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 Stock owned by or held for the account of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record dte is fixed; and in the event that such rights or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed. (c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for a distribution to all holders of Common Stock (including any such distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation) of evidences of indebtedness, cash (other than a regular quarterly dividend out of the earnings or retained earnings of the Company), assets (other than a dividend payable in Common Stock, but including any dividend payable in stock other than Common Stock) or subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b) hereof), the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the Current Market Price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Common Stock on such record date less the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent) 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 share of Common Stock and the denominator of which shall be such Current Market Price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Common Stock. Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that such distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall 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)(iii) hereof, the "Current Market Price" per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of Common Stock for the thirty (30) consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined) immediately prior to such date, and for purposes of computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the "Current Market Price" per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of Common Stock for the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days immediately following such date; provided, however, that in the event that the then Current Market Price per share of Common Stock is determined during a period following the announcement by the issuer of such Common Stock of (i) any dividend or distribution on such Common Stock payable in such shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into shares of Common Stock (other than the Rights) or (ii) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such Common Stock, and prior to the expiration of the requisite thirty (30) Trading Day or ten (10) Trading Day period, as set forth above, after the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or the record date for such subdivision, combination or reclassification, then, and in each such case, the "Current Market Price" shall be properly adjusted to take into account ex-dividend trading. The closing price for each day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading or, if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted sale price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ") or such other system then in use, or, if on any such date the shares of Common Stock 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 Common Stock selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. If on any such date no market maker is making a market in the Common Stock, the fair value of such shares on such date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be used. The term "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the principal national securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day. If the Common Stock is not publicly held or not so listed or traded, "Current Market Price" per share shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes. (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 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 mandates such adjustment, or (ii) the Expiration Date. (f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a) or Section 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock other than Common Stock; thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of any Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the Common Stock contained in Sections 11(a), (b), (c), (e), (g), (h), (i), (j) and (1) hereof, and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13, and 14 hereof with respect to the Common Stock shall apply on like terms to any such other shares. (g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of shares of Common Stock (or other consideration, as the case may be) purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein. (h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as provided in Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price following the Share Acquisition Date as a result of the calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c), each Right outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of shares of Common Stock (calculated to the nearest one-ten-thousandth) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of shares 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. (i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in lieu of any adjustment in the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after the adjustment in the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of 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 one-ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The Company shall make a public announcement of its election to adjust the number of Rights, indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. This record date may be the date on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Rights Certificates have been issued, shall be at least ten (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 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 share and the number of shares which were expressed in the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder. (k) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a specified event, the Company may elect to defer, until the occurrence of such event, the issuance to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date the Common Stock and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the 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 Common Stock and other capital stock or securities upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment. (l) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Purchase Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, as and to the extent that in their good faith judgment the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine to be advisable in order that any (i) consolidation or subdivision of the Common Stock, (ii) issuance for cash of any shares of Common Stock at less than the Current Market Price, (iii) issuance for cash of shares of Common Stock or securities which by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock, (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 Stock shall not be taxable to such stockholders. (m) The Company covenants and agrees that it 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(n) hereof), (ii) merge with or into any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(n) 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 11(n) hereof), if (x) at the time of or immediately after such consolidation, merger or sale there are any rights, warrants or other instruments or securities outstanding or agreements in effect which would substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights or (y) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after such consolidation, merger or sale, the shareholders 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. (n) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the Distribution Date, it will not, except as permitted by Section 23 or Section 26 hereof, take (or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action if at the time such action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action will diminish substantially or eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights. Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 and Section 13 hereof, the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment, (b) promptly file with the Rights Agent, and with each transfer agent for the Common Stock, a copy of such certificate, and (c), if a Distribution Date has occurred, mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Rights Certificate in accordance with Section 25 hereof. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment therein contained. Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power. (a) In the event that, following the Stock Acquisition Date, directly or indirectly, (x) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and into, any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(n) hereof), and the Company shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger, (y) any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(n) hereof) shall consolidate with, or merge with or 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 shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other Person or cash or any other property, or (z) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer), 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 Person or Persons (other than the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in one or more transactions each of which complies with Section 11(n) hereof), then, and in each such case (except as may be contemplated by Section 13(d) hereof), proper provision shall be made so that: (i) each holder of a Right, except as provided in Section 7(e) hereof, shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such number of validly authorized and issued, fully paid, non-assessable and freely tradeable shares of Common Stock of the Principal Party (as such term is hereinafter defined) as shall be equal to the result obtained by (1) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the number of shares of Common Stock for which a Right is exercisable by such holder immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13(a) Event (or, if a Section 11(a)(ii) Event has occurred prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13(a) Event, multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to the first occurrence of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event by the number of shares of Common Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such first occurrence) and (2) dividing that product (such product, following the first occurrence of a Section 13(a) Event, shall be referred to as the "Purchase Price" for each Right and for all purposes of this Agreement) by 50% of the Current Market Price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof with respect to the Common Stock) per share of Common Stock of such Principal Party on the date of consummation of the Section 13(a) Event; (ii) such Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such Section 13(a) Event, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) 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(a) Event; (iv) such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of shares of its Common Stock) in connection with the consummation of any such transaction as may be necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to its shares of Common Stock thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights; and (v) the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shll be of no effect following the first occurrence of any Section 13(a) Event. (a) "Principal Party" shall mean (i) in the case of any transaction described in clause (x) or (y) of the first sentence 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 (z) of the first sentence 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, (1) if the Common Stock of such Person is not at such time and has not been continuously over the preceding twelve (12) month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and such Person is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person the Common Stock of which is and has been so registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person; and (2) in case such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than one Person, the Common Stock of two or more of which are and have been so registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the issuer of the Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market value. (b) 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 which have not been issued or reserved for issuance to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with this Section 13 and unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing for the terms set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 13 and further providing that, as soon as practicable after the date of any consolidation, merger or sale of assets mentioned in paragraph (a) of this Section 13, the 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, and will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to (A) become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and (B) remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Securities Act) until the Expiration Date; (ii) take all such other action as may be necessary to enable the Principal Party to issue the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights, including but not limited to the registration or qualification of such securities under all requisite securities laws of jurisdictions of the various states and the listing of such securities on such exchanges and trading markets as may be necessary or appropriate; and (iii)deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial statements for the Principal Party and each of its Affiliates which comply in all respects with the requirements for registration on Form 10 under the Exchange Act. The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers. In the event that a Section 13(a) Event shall occur at any time after the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the Rights which have not theretofore been exercised shall thereafter become exercisable in the manner described in Section 13(a). (c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Section 13 shall not be applicable to a transaction described in subparagraphs (x) and (y) of Section 13(a) if (i) such transaction is consummated with a Person or Persons who acquired shares of Common Stock pursuant to a tender offer or exchange offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock which is a Qualified Offer as such term is defined in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof (or a wholly-owned subsidiary of any such Person or Persons), (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 Stock whose shares were purchased pursuant to such tender offer or exchange offer, and (iii) the form of consideration being offered to the remaining holders of shares of Common Stock pursuant to such transaction is the same as the form of consideration paid pursuant to such tender offer or exchange offer. Upon consummation of any such transaction contemplated by this Section 13(d), all Rights hereunder shall expire. Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares. (a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or to distribute Rights Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise he issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole Right. For purposes of this Section 14(a), the current market value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would have been otherwise issuable. The closing price of the Rights for any day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the Rights are listed or admitted to trading, or if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by NASDAQ or such other system then in use or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices (as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Rights selected by the Board of Directors of the Company). If on any such date no such market maker is making a market in the Rights, the fair value of the Rights on such date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be used. (b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of Common Stock. In lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock, the Company may pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of one share of Common Stock. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market value of one share of Common Stock shall be the closing price of a share of Common Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise. (c) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right expressly waives his right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional shares upon exercise of the Right. Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this Agreement are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the Common Stock); and any registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), may, in his own behalf and for his own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such 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 shall be entitled to specific performance of the obligations hereunder and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations of the obligations hereunder 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 Common Stock; (b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at the principal 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 Section 6(a) and Section 7(f) hereof, the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common Stock certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the Rights Certificates or the associated Common Stock certificate made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent, subject to the last sentence of Section 7(e) hereof, shall be required to be affected by any notice to the contrary; and (d) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to any holder of a Right or other Person as a result of its inability to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or permanent injunction or other order, decree or ruling issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or administrative agency or commission, or any statute, rule, regulation or executive order promulgated or enacted by any governmental authority, prohibiting or otherwise restraining performance of such obligation; provided, however, the Company must use its reasonable efforts to have any such order, decree or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned as soon as possible. Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No holder, as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the 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 24 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 reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and disbursements 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 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. (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 Common Stock or for other securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement, or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons. 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 corporate trust or stock transfer business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided, 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 a 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 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 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 (who may be legal counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion. (b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter (including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person and the determination of Current 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 the Chairman of the Board of Directors, any Vice Chairman, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant 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 only for its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct. (d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the Rights Certificates or be required to verify the same (except as to its countersignature on such Rights Certificates), 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 and delivery 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 transferability or exercisability of the Rights or adjustment required under the provisions of Section 11 or Section 13 or any other provision hereof or responsible for the manner, method or amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Rights Certificates after actual notice of any such adjustment); nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights Certificate or as to whether any shares of Common Stock will, when so 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 the Chairman of the Board of Directors, any Vice Chairman, the President, any Vice President, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of any such officer or for any delay in acting while waiting for such instructions. (h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity. (i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct; provided, however, 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 contained in the form of assignment or the form of election to purchase set forth on the reverse thereof, as the case may be, has 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 of the Common Stock, by registered or certified mail, and, if such resignation occurs after the Distribution Date, to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon thirty (30) days notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock, by registered or certified mail, and, if such removal occurs after the Distribution Date, to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by any registered holder of a Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Rights Certificate for inspection by the Company), then any 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) a legal business entity organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of the State of New York (or of any other state of the United States), in good standing, having an office in the States of Ohio or New York which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust or stock transfer or shareholder services powers and which has at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 or (b) an affiliate of any such legal business entity described in clause (a) above. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment, the Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Stock, and, if such appointment occurs after the Distribution Date, mail a notice thereof i 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 shares of Common Stock following the Distribution Date and prior to the redemption or expiration of the Rights, the Company (a) shall, with respect to shares of Common Stock so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under any employee plan or arrangement, 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 if, and to the extent that, the Company shall be advised by counsel that such issuance would create a significant risk of material adverse tax consequences to the Company or the Person to whom such Rights Certificate would be issued, and (ii) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance thereof. Section 23. Redemption and Termination. (a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any time prior to the Close of Business on the earlier of (i) the tenth day following the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the Stock Acquisition Date shall have occurred prior to the Record Date, the Close of Business on the tenth day following the Record Date), 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, as such amount shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such redemption price being hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption Price"); and the Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price either in Common Stock (based on the Current Market Price, as defined in Section 11(d)(i) hereof, of the Common Stock at the time of redemption), cash or any other form of consideration deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors of the Company. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event until such time as the Company's right of redemption hereunder has expired. (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 for each Right so held. Promptly after the action of the Board of Directors of the Company 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 each holder's last address as it appears upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the Transfer Agent for the Common Stock. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption will state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made. Section 24. 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 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 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 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(n) 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(n) 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 25 hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the record date for the purposes 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 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 Common Stock for purposes of 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 proposed action or the date of participation therein by the holders of the Common Stock, whichever shall be the earlier. (b) In case any of the events set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall occur, then, in any such case, the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible, in accordance with Section 25 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 Section 11(a)(ii) hereof. Section 25. 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: Cinergy Corp. 139 East Fourth Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Attention: Corporate Secretary Subject to the provisions of Section 21, 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: The Fifth Third Bank Corporate Trust Department #1090 D2 38 Fountain Square Plaza Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate (or if prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder of certificates representing shares of Common Stock) 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 26. Supplements and Amendments. Prior to the Distribution Date, the Company and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend any provision of this Agreement without the approval of any holders of certificates representing shares of Common Stock. From and after the Distribution Date, the Company and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of Rights Certificates in order (i) to cure any ambiguity, (ii) to correct or supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, (iii) to change or supplement the provisions hereunder in any manner which the Company may deem necessary or desirable and which shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights Certificates; or (iv) to shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder; provided, from and after the Distribution Date, this Agreement may not be supplemented or amended to lengthen, pursuant to clause (iv) of this sentence, any time period hereunder 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 which states that the proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 26, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, this Agreement may not be amended at a time when the Rights are not redeemable. Prior to the Distribution Date, the interests of the holders of Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests of the holders of Common Stock. Section 27. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder. Section 28. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc. For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of determining the particular percentage of such outstanding shares of Common Stock of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with the last sentence of Rule 13d-3d(1)(i) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act as in effect as of the date hereof. The Board of Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically granted to the Board or Directors or the Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this Agreement, and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this Agreement (including a determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to amend the Agreement). All such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (ii) below, all omissions with respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith, shall (i) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights and all other parties, and (ii) not subject the Board of Directors of the Company to any liability to the holders of the Rights Certificates. Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, registered holders of the Common Stock) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, registered holders of the Common Stock). Section 30. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or restriction is held by such court or authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable and the Board of Directors of the Company determines in its good faith judgment that severing the invalid language from this Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or effect of this Agreement, the right of redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof shall be reinstated and shall not expire until the Close of Business on the tenth day following the date of such determination by the Board of Directors of the Company. Without limiting the foregoing, if any provision requiring a determination by only certain members of the Board of Directors of the Company (as it may then be constituted) is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, such determination shall then be made by the Board of Directors of the Company in accordance with applicable law and the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, By-laws and Regulations, and the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated. Section 31. Governing Law. This Agreement, each Right and each 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 made and to be performed entirely within such State. Section 32. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. Section 33. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the several Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and attested, all as of the day and year first above written. Attest: Cinergy Corp. By:___________________________ By:_____________________________ Name: Name: Title: Title: Attest: The Fifth Third Bank By:___________________________ By:_____________________________ Name: Name: Title: Title: Exhibit A [Form of Rights Certificate] Certificate No. R- ___________ Rights NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER JULY ____, 20[10] [UNLESS EXTENDED PRIOR THERETO BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS] OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED 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 (AS DEFINED HEREIN). UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE THEREOF (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 THEREOF (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 THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.] Rights Certificate Cinergy Corp. This certifies that , or registered assigns, is the registered holder 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 July , 2000 (the "Rights Agreement"), between Cinergy Corp., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and The Fifth Third Bank, a banking corporation (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company at any time prior to 5:00 P.M. (Eastern time) on July , 20[10] at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or its successors as Rights Agent, one fully paid and non-assessable share of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Company, at a purchase price of $100.00 per share (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase set forth on the reverse hereof and the Certificate contained therein duly executed. The Purchase Price shall be paid at the election of the holder, in cash, Common Stock of the Company having an equivalent value, or a combination thereof. The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate, the number of shares of Common Stock which may be purchased upon exercise thereof and the Purchase Price per share of Common Stock, set forth above, are the number of Rights, number of shares of Common Stock and Purchase Price as of ____________, 20__, based on the Common Stock as constituted at such date. Upon the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement), if the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), (ii) a transferee of any such Acquiring Person (or any such Associate or Affiliate), or (iii) under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement, a transferee of a person who, after such transfer, became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, such Rights shall become null and void and no holder hereof shall have any rights with respect to such Rights from and after the occurrence of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event. 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, including Triggering Events. This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms provisions and conditions are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates, 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 above mentioned office of the Rights Agent and are also available upon written request to the Company. This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates, upon surrender at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate number of shares of Common Stock as the Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase. If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised. Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by this Certificate may be redeemed by the Board of Directors of the Company at its option at a redemption price of $0.01 per Right at any time prior to the earlier of the Close of Business on (i) the tenth day following the Stock Acquisition Date (as such time period may be extended pursuant to the Rights Agreement), and (ii) the Final Expiration Date. 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 shall be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of shares of Common Stock or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement. This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent. WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and its corporate seal. Dated as of ________ ___, 20__ ATTEST: CINERGY CORP. _________________________ By:__________________________ Secretary Name: Title: Countersigned: THE FIFTH THIRD BANK By: ___________________________ Authorized Signature [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 rights, 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: ________________, 20__ _________________________ Signature Signature Guaranteed: 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 thereof (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement); (2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it [ ] 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 thereof. Dated:___________, 20___ ______________________________ Signature NOTICE The signatures to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever. FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE (To be executed if the registered holder desires to exercise Rights represented by the Rights Certificate.) To: CINERGY CORP.: 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 the Rights (or such other securities of the Company or of any other person which may be issuable upon the exercise of the Rights) and requests that certificates for such shares be issued in the name of: (Please print name and address) Please insert social security or other identifying number: If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance of such Rights shall be registered in the name of and delivered to: (Please print name and address) Please insert social security or other identifying number: Dated: _____________, 20___ Signature Signature Guaranteed: 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 thereof (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement); (2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, I [ ] 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 thereof. Dated: ____________, 20__ Signature NOTICE The signatures to the foregoing Election to Purchase and Certificate must correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever. Exhibit B SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK On July ___, 2000, the Board of Directors of Cinergy Corp., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), authorized and granted to each holder of a share of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock") outstanding at the close of business on the tenth Business Day following the first public announcement by the Company of receipt of approval of the dividend by the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (the "Record Date") one Right for each share of Common Stock held as of the Record Date. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one share of Common Stock at a price of $100.00 (the "Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. The Purchase Price may be paid, at the election of the registered holder, in cash, Common Stock or a combination thereof. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement, dated as of July ____, 2000 (the "Rights Agreement"), between the Company and The Fifth Third Bank, as Rights Agent. Initially, the Rights will be attached to the certificates representing outstanding Common Stock, and no separate certificates evidencing the Rights (the "Rights Certificates") will be distributed. Until the earlier to occur of (i) ten days following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an "Acquiring Person") has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the outstanding Common Stock (the "Stock Acquisition Date") other than as a result of repurchases of stock by the Company or certain inadvertent actions by institutional or other stockholders, or (ii) ten Business Days following the commencement of (or public announcement of the intent to commence) a tender offer or exchange offer by any person or group if upon consummation thereof, such person or group would be the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the outstanding Common Stock (the earliest of such dates being called the "Distribution Date"), the Rights will be evidenced by the Common Stock certificates. The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferred with and only with Common Stock certificates. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the transfer of any certificate for Common Stock will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificate. As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, Right Certificates will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of the Close of Business on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, such separate Right Certificates alone will evidence the Rights. The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will expire at the Close of Business on July __, 20[10], unless earlier redeemed or extended by the Company as described below. In the event that a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person (other than pursuant to an offer for all outstanding Common Stock at a price and on terms which a majority of the independent Directors determine to be adequate and otherwise to be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, after receiving advice from one or more investment banking firms (a "Qualified Offer"), the Rights Agreement provides that proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof, Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or other securities of the Company) having a value equal to two (2) times the exercise price of the Right. However, Rights are not exercisable following the occurrence of either of the events set forth above until such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable by the Company as set forth below. Notwithstanding the foregoing, following the occurrence of any of the events set forth in this paragraph, any Rights that are, or (under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) were, beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person shall immediately become null and void. In the event that following the Stock Acquisition Date, (i) the Company engages in a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving corporation (other than with an entity which acquired the shares pursuant to a Qualified Offer), (ii) the Company engages in a merger or consolidation with another person in which the Company is the surviving corporation, but in which all or part of its Common Stock are changed or exchanged, or (iii) 50% or more of the Company's assets or earning power is sold or transferred (except with respect to clause (i) and (ii), a "cleanup" merger which follows an offer described in the preceding paragraph), the Rights Agreement provides that proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof, Common Stock of the acquiring company having a value equal to two (2) times the exercise price of the Right. The events set forth in this paragraph and in the preceding paragraph are referred to as the "Triggering Events." The Purchase Price payable, and the number of shares of Common Stock 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 holders of the Common Stock of certain rights or warrants to subscribe for Common Stock or securities convertible into Common Stock at less than the Current Market Price of the Common Stock, or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Common Stock of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular quarterly dividends) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above). With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in such Purchase Price. No fractional Common Stock will be issued upon exercise of the Rights and, in lieu thereof, a cash payment will be made based on the market price of the Common Stock on the last trading date prior to the date of exercise. At any time after the date of the Rights Agreement until ten days following the Stock Acquisition Date, the Board of Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.01 per Right, payable in cash or stock (the "Redemption Price"). Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company ordering redemption of the Rights, the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price. Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights will not be taxable to stockholders or to the Company, stockholders may, depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that a Triggering Event shall occur. Any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board of Directors of the Company prior to the Distribution Date. After the Distribution Date, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board of Directors of the Company in order to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency; to shorten or lengthen any time period under the Rights Agreement; or in any other respect that will not adversely affect the interests of holders of Rights; provided, however, that no amendment may be made at such time as the Rights are not redeemable. A copy of the Rights Agreement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement of the Company on Form 8-A. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the Company upon written request therefor. 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 incorporated herein by reference. EX-99.F 3 0003.txt EXHIBIT F-1 EXHIBIT F-1 July 28, 2000 Securities and Exchange Commission 450 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20549 Re: Cinergy Corp./File No. 70-______ Ladies and Gentlemen: I am Senior Counsel for Cinergy Corp. ("Cinergy"), a Delaware corporation and registered holding company under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935. This opinion letter is delivered pursuant to the rules of the Commission thereunder as an exhibit to the Application-Declaration on Form U-1 in the above file, which application-declaration is being submitted to the Commission on the date hereof (the initial application-declaration, including any amendments thereto, the "Application"). Any capitalized terms used herein without separate definition have the meanings assigned thereto in the Application. In connection with this opinion, I have reviewed the Application and such other documents and made such other investigation as I have deemed appropriate. Based on the foregoing and subject to the other paragraphs hereof, I express the following opinions: 1. All state laws applicable to the proposed transactions will have been complied with. 2. Cinergy is validly organized and duly existing. 3. Each of the Rights and any Common Stock that may be issued by Cinergy pursuant to the Rights will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and the holders thereof will be entitled to the rights and privileges appertaining thereto set forth in the Rights Agreement or Cinergy's certificate of incorporation and by-laws, as amended, respectively. 4. The consummation of the proposed transactions will not violate the legal rights of the holders of any securities issued by Cinergy or any associate company thereof. The foregoing opinions presume that the proposed transactions will be consummated in accordance with the Application and the Commission's order or orders granting and permitting the Application to become effective. I am admitted to the Bar of the State of Ohio. The foregoing opinions are limited to the laws of the State of Ohio and the Delaware General Corporation Law. I hereby consent to the Commission's use of this opinion letter in connection with the Application. This opinion letter may not be used for any other purpose or relied on by or furnished to any other party without my prior written consent. Very truly yours, /s/ George Dwight II Senior Counsel EX-99.G 4 0004.txt EXHIBIT G Exhibit G Form of Public Notice Securities and Exchange Commission (Release No. 35-_________) Cinergy Corp., a Delaware corporation and registered public utility holding company ("Cinergy"), at 139 East Fourth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202, has filed an application-declaration with the Commission under sections 6(a), 7, 9(a), 10 and 12(c) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended, and rules 42 and 54 thereunder. Cinergy requests approval to adopt and implement a shareholder rights plan (the "Plan"). Pursuant to the Plan, the Board of Directors (the "Board") of Cinergy intends to declare a dividend of one right (a "Right") for each outstanding share of Cinergy Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), payable to shareholders of record on the tenth business day after receipt of the authorization herein requested (the "Record Date"). As of April 30, 2000, there were approximately 159 million shares of Common Stock outstanding. The Rights will be created by and issued pursuant to a Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement"), between Cinergy and The Fifth Third Bank, an Ohio banking corporation, as Rights Agent. In particular, Cinergy seeks authorization to implement the Plan and the Rights Agreement, including, among other actions permitted by the Rights Agreement, the following transactions: (1) The dividend distribution of the Rights; (2) The making of adjustments to the Exercise Price (defined below), and the issuance and sale of Common Stock or the transfer of other assets upon exercise of the Rights; (3) The redemption of Rights; and (4) Amending the Rights Agreement from time to time as described below. According to Cinergy, the Plan, including the adoption of the Rights Agreement and the distribution of the Rights to Cinergy's shareholders, provides appropriate protections for shareholders from the takeover abuses discussed above. Shareholder rights plans have become a widely accepted means to maximize shareholder value by reducing the risk of nonrealization of shareholder value due to opportunistic acquisition proposals. Cinergy states that more than 2,000 companies have adopted rights plans, including a majority of the Fortune 500 companies and more than 40 utility companies (including numerous registered holding companies). The U-1 summarizes the material terms of the Plan as follows: 1. Exercise Price The Rights created under the Rights Agreement would entitle the holders thereof to purchase one share of Common Stock at a price of $100 per whole share of Common Stock (the "Exercise Price"), subject to adjustment. Initially, the Rights would not be exercisable and would trade with the outstanding shares of Common Stock. Upon the occurrence of the triggering events described below, the Rights would become exercisable and certificates representing the Rights would be distributed and would trade independently of such outstanding shares. However, the Rights would not entitle the holders thereof to make a discounted purchase of shares of Cinergy's Common Stock or of the common stock of the person proposing to acquire Cinergy until the occurrence of either of the events described below under "Discount Purchase Right." 2. Distribution Events The Rights would become exercisable (i.e., Common Stock could be purchased at the Exercise Price pursuant to the Rights) upon the earlier to occur of (such date, the "Distribution Date") (i) 10 business days after the first public announcement that any person or group (an "Acquiring Person") has without the Board's prior consent acquired beneficial ownership of 10% or more of Cinergy's outstanding Common Stock ("Acquisition Event") and (ii) 10 business days (unless extended by the Board) after any person or group has commenced a tender or exchange offer which would, upon its consummation, result in such person or group becoming an Acquiring Person ("Offer Event"). 3. Discount Purchase Right After the Distribution Date, if an Acquisition Event has occurred, the holders of the Rights (other than an Acquiring Person and certain transferees thereof, whose Rights will become void) would immediately have the right to receive (subject to the effectiveness of an appropriate registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933), for each Right exercised, Common Stock having a market value equal to two times the Exercise Price then in effect ("Discount Purchase Right"). In the event that, following an Acquisition Event, (i) Cinergy is acquired by another person or entity not controlled by Cinergy ("Acquiror") in a merger or other business combination transaction in which Cinergy is not the continuing or surviving entity, (ii) an Acquiror consolidates or merges into Cinergy in a merger or other business combination transaction in which Cinergy is the continuing or surviving entity and, in connection with the transaction, all or part of the Common Stock is changed into or exchanged for property, or (iii) 50% or more of Cinergy's consolidated assets or earning power is sold or transferred to an Acquiror, each holder of a Right (except Rights which previously have been voided as set forth above) will thereafter be entitled to receive, for each Right exercised, common stock of the Acquiror or other appropriate party having a market value equal to two times the Exercise Price then in effect. 4. Redemption of Rights The Rights may be redeemed, as a whole, at a Redemption Price of $0.01 per Right, subject to adjustment, at the direction of the Board, which Redemption Price shall be paid at Cinergy's option, in cash, shares of Common Stock or other appropriate form of consideration, at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the close of business on the date that any person has become an Acquiring Person and (ii) the date of final expiration of the Rights. The Rights will expire at the close of business ten years from the date of the Rights Agreement, unless earlier redeemed or exchanged by Cinergy as described below. 5. Adjustments to Exercise Price The Exercise Price payable, and the number of shares of Common Stock (or other securities, 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 holders of the Common Stock of certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock or convertible securities at less than the then current market price of Common Stock or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Common Stock of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends or dividends payable in Common Stock) or of subscription rights or warrants. Prior to the date on which the Rights become exercisable, the Board may make such equitable adjustments as it deems appropriate in the circumstances in lieu of any adjustment otherwise required by the foregoing. With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Exercise Price will be required until the time at which cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in such Exercise Price. No fractional shares of Common Stock 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 date prior to the date of exercise. 6. Amendments The terms of the Rights may be amended by the Board (i) prior to the Distribution Date in any manner, and (ii) on or after the Distribution Date to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision of the Rights Agreement which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions, or in any manner not adversely affecting the interests of the holders of the Rights (including the interests of any Acquiring Person) or, subject to certain limitations, to shorten or lengthen any time period under the Rights Agreement. The terms of the Rights may not be amended at a time when the Rights are not redeemable. Cinergy states that it currently does not meet the conditions of Rule 53(a). As of March 31, 2000, Cinergy's "aggregate investment," as defined in Rule 53(a)(1), in EWGs and FUCOs was approximately $607.8 million. This amount is equal to approximately 58% of Cinergy's average "consolidated retained earnings," also as defined in Rule 53(a)(1), for the four quarters ended March 31, 2000, of approximately $1055.8 million, which exceeds the 50% "safe harbor" limitation contained in the rule. By order dated March 23, 1998 (HCAR No. 26848) ("1998 Order"), the Commission authorized Cinergy to increase its aggregate investment in EWGs and FUCOs to an amount equal to 100% of Cinergy's average "consolidated retained earnings." By order dated June 23, 2000 (HCAR No. 27190) ("2000 Order"), the Commission granted Cinergy additional authorization to invest in EWGs and FUCOs beyond that granted in the 1998 Order specifically, $1 billion in addition to Cinergy's aggregate investment at the date of such order. Although Cinergy's aggregate investment at March 31, 2000 exceeds the 50% "safe harbor" limitation, this investment is below the limitation authorized by the 1998 and 2000 Orders. With respect to capitalization, Cinergy asserts that there has been no material adverse impact on Cinergy's consolidated capitalization resulting from Cinergy's investments in EWGs and FUCOs. As of September 30, 1997, the most recent period for which financial statement information was evaluated in the 1998 Order, Cinergy's consolidated capitalization consisted of 44.1% equity and 55.9% debt. As of March 31, 2000, Cinergy's consolidated capitalization consisted of 43.5 % equity and 56.5% debt. These ratios are within acceptable ranges, as further reflected by the fact that at March 31, 2000 Cinergy's senior unsecured debt was rated "investment grade" by all the major rating agencies. According to Cinergy, the impact of the proposed transactions upon Cinergy's consolidated capitalization will be insubstantial. With respect to earnings, Cinergy states that its interests in EWGs and FUCOs have made consistent and significant contributions to Cinergy's consolidated retained earnings, as reflected in the quarterly certificates filed by Cinergy in Docket No. 70-9011. Although Cinergy's consolidated earnings for the year ended December 31, 1997 were negatively affected by Cinergy's 50% ownership interest in Midlands Electricity plc ("Midlands"), a FUCO, this was solely as a result of the imposition by the United Kingdom of a one-time, non-recurring windfall tax. Significantly, this tax did not affect earnings from ongoing operations, and therefore would not have any negative impact on earnings in future periods. In July 1999, Cinergy sold all of its ownership in Midlands, realizing a substantial profit. Finally, Cinergy states that it satisfies all of the other conditions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of Rule 53. Fees and expenses in connection with the proposed transactions are estimated to total approximately $50,000. For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management, pursuant to delegated authority. -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----