Exhibit 4.1

TAX BENEFITS PRESERVATION PLAN

Dated as of August 16, 2023

between

SEACHANGE INTERNATIONAL, INC.

and

COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

as Rights Agent

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Section 1.

  Certain Definitions      1  

Section 2.

  Appointment of Rights Agent      7  

Section 3.

  Issue of Right Certificates      8  

Section 4.

  Form of Right Certificates      9  

Section 5.

  Countersignature and Registration      10  

Section 6.

  Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates      10  

Section 7.

  Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration      11  

Section 8.

  Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates      13  

Section 9.

  Availability of Preferred Shares      13  

Section 10.

  Shares Record Date      14  

Section 11.

  Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or Number of Rights      14  

Section 12.

  Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares      21  

Section 13.

  [Reserved]      21  

Section 14.

  Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares      21  

Section 15.

  Rights of Action      22  

Section 16.

  Agreement of Right Holders      23  

Section 17.

  Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder      23  

Section 18.

  Concerning the Rights Agent      24  

Section 19.

  Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent      24  

Section 20.

  Rights and Duties of Rights Agent      25  

Section 21.

  Change of Rights Agent      28  

Section 22.

  Issuance of New Right Certificates      29  

Section 23.

  Redemption      29  

Section 24.

  Exchange      30  

 

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Section 25.

  Notice of Certain Events      31  

Section 26.

  Notices      32  

Section 27.

  Supplements and Amendments      33  

Section 28.

  Successors      33  

Section 29.

  Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc      33  

Section 30.

  Benefits of this Agreement      34  

Section 31.

  Severability      34  

Section 32.

  Governing Law      34  

Section 33.

  Counterparts      34  

Section 34.

  Descriptive Headings      34  

Section 35.

  Construction; Interpretation      34  

Exhibit A.

       A-1  

Exhibit B.

       B-1  

Exhibit C.

       C-1  

 

 

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TAX BENEFITS PRESERVATION PLAN

Tax Benefits Preservation Plan (the “Agreement”), dated as of August 16, 2023, between SeaChange International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a federally chartered trust company, as Rights Agent (the “Rights Agent”).

A. The Company has generated certain Tax Benefits (as defined herein) for United States federal income tax purposes, which Tax Benefits may potentially provide valuable benefits to the Company.

B. The Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board of Directors”) views these Tax Benefits as a valuable asset of the Company, which is likely to inure to the benefit of the Company and its stockholders, and the Board of Directors believes it is in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders that the Company provide for the protection of these Tax Benefits on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement; as such, the Board of Directors desires to avoid an “ownership change” of the Company within the meaning of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the Treasury Regulations (as defined herein) promulgated thereunder, in order to avoid the imposition of certain limitations on the Company’s ability to fully use such Tax Benefits.

C. As a result, the Board of Directors has authorized and declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a “Right”) for each Common Share (as hereinafter defined) of the Company outstanding as of the Close of Business (as hereinafter defined) on August 15, 2023 (the “Record Date”), each Right representing the right to purchase one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (as hereinafter defined), upon the terms and subject to the conditions herein set forth, and has further authorized and directed the issuance of one Right with respect to each Common Share that shall become outstanding between the Record Date and the earliest of the Distribution Date, the Expiration Date and the Final Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter defined).

Accordingly, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:

Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings indicated:

(a) “Acquiring Person” shall mean any Person (as hereinafter defined) who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates (as such terms are hereinafter defined) of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner (as hereinafter defined) of 4.9% or more of the Company Securities then outstanding, provided, however, that:

(i) the term “Acquiring Person” shall not include an Exempt Person (so long as such Person remains an Exempt Person);

(ii) no Person who Beneficially Owns, as of the time of the first public announcement of this Agreement, 4.9% or more of the Company Securities then outstanding, shall become an “Acquiring Person” unless such Person shall, after such time, change its Beneficial Ownership of Company Securities then outstanding in a transaction or series of transactions (other

 

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than as a result of an acquisition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of Company Securities) such that such Person’s Beneficial Ownership of Company Securities then outstanding is an amount equal to or greater than the greater of (1) 4.9% or (2) the sum of (A) the lowest Beneficial Ownership of such Person as a percentage of the outstanding Company Securities as of any date on or after the date of the first public announcement of this Agreement plus (B) 4.9%;

(iii) no Person shall become an “Acquiring Person” as the result of (1) an acquisition of Company Securities by the Company which, by reducing the number of Company Securities outstanding, increases the proportionate number of Company Securities Beneficially Owned by such Person to 4.9% or more of the Company Securities then outstanding; or (2) a stock dividend, rights dividend, stock split, or similar transaction effected by the Company; provided, however, that if a Person shall become the Beneficial Owner of 4.9% or more of the Company Securities then outstanding pursuant to clause (1) or (2) of this Section 1(a)(iii), and shall, after first public announcement by the Company of such acquisition by the Company, become the Beneficial Owner of an additional one-half of one percent (0.5%) or more of the then-outstanding Company Securities (other than as a result of another stock dividend, rights dividend, stock split or similar transaction effected by the Company in which all holders of Company Securities are treated equally), then such Person shall be deemed to be an “Acquiring Person”;

(iv) if the Board of Directors determines in good faith that a Person who would otherwise be an “Acquiring Person”, as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 1(a), has become such inadvertently, and such Person, within ten (10) Business Days of being requested by the Company to do so, certifies to the Company that such Person became an Acquiring Person inadvertently or without knowledge of the terms of the Rights and who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates, thereafter within ten (10) Business Days following such certification disposes of such number of shares of Company Securities so that it, together with all Affiliates and Associates, ceases to be an Acquiring Person, as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 1(a), then such Person shall not be deemed to be or have ever been an “Acquiring Person” for any purposes of this Agreement; provided, however, that if the Person requested to so certify or dispose of shares of Company Securities fails to do so within ten (10) Business Days, then such Person shall become an Acquiring Person immediately after such ten (10) Business Day period;

(v) any Person that has become an “Acquiring Person,” shall not be treated as an “Acquiring Person” for any purposes of this Agreement if the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, determines that such Person’s acquisition of Beneficial Ownership of Company Securities does not jeopardize or endanger the Company’s ability to utilize the Tax Benefits; provided, however, that, if (1) a Person shall become the Beneficial Owner of 4.9% or more of the Company Securities then outstanding based on a determination by the Board of Directors pursuant to this Section 1(a)(v) and (2) after such acquisition, such Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of any additional Company Securities (other than as a result of a stock dividend, rights dividend, stock split or similar transaction effected by the Company in which all holders of Common Shares are treated equally), then such Person shall be deemed to be an “Acquiring Person”.

 

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In determining whether a Person owns 4.9% or more of the Company Securities then outstanding, for all purposes of this Agreement, all of the Company Securities of the Company Beneficially Owned by such Person shall be taken into account in the numerator and, for purposes of the denominator, any calculation of the number of the Company Securities of the Company outstanding at any particular time shall be made pursuant to and in accordance with Section 382 (as herein defined). Without limiting the foregoing, any Person (other than a “direct public group” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.382-2T(j)(2)(ii)) shall be treated as the Beneficial Owner of 4.9% or more of the Company Securities of the Company then outstanding if, in the determination of the Board of Directors, that Person would be treated as a “5-percent stockholder” for purposes of Section 382 (substituting “4.9” for “5” each time “five” or “5” is used in or for purposes of Section 382), including pursuant to Section 1.382-2T(g) of the Treasury Regulations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, any Company Securities of the Company of which a Person or any Affiliate or Associate of such Person becomes the Beneficial Owner pursuant to an equity compensation award granted to such Person by the Company or as a result of an adjustment by the Company to the number of Company Securities represented by such equity compensation award pursuant to the terms thereof shall, solely for purposes of determining the number of Company Securities of the Company of which such Person or any Affiliate or Associate of such Person is the Beneficial Owner at any time, not be included in (x) the calculation of the number of shares of Company Securities outstanding or (y) the particular percentage of the number of Company Securities of the Company of which such Person and/or any Affiliate or Associate of such Person is the Beneficial Owner.

(b) “Affiliate” and “Associate” shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as in effect on the date of this Agreement. The terms “Affiliate” and “Associate” shall also include, with respect to any Person, any other Person whose Company Securities would be deemed to be constructively owned by such first Person, owned by a single “entity” as defined in Section 1.382-3(a)(1) of the Treasury Regulations with respect to such first Person, or otherwise aggregated with shares owned by such first Person pursuant to the provisions of Section 382.

(c) A Person shall be deemed the “Beneficial Owner” of and shall be deemed to “Beneficially Own” or have “Beneficial Ownership” of any securities:

(i) which such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates (A) directly or indirectly has the right to vote or dispose of, alone or in concert with others, or (B) is deemed to beneficially own, directly or indirectly, within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act as in effect on the date of this Agreement, including, with respect to both clause (A) and clause (B), 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, securities (including, but not limited to, rights, options or warrants) which are convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for Company Securities, except to the extent the acquisition or transfer of such rights, options or warrants would reasonably be expected to result in the rights, options or warrants being treated as exercised on the date of their acquisition or transfer under or otherwise for purposes of Section 382;

(ii) which such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates owns, directly or indirectly, or has the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately, or only after the passage of time, compliance with regulatory requirements, the fulfillment of a condition, or otherwise) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not

 

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in writing), or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants, options, or other rights (including, without limitation, within the meaning of Section 382) or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, (A) any Company Securities by virtue of owning securities or other interests (including, but not limited to, rights, options or warrants) that are convertible or exchangeable into, or exercisable for, such Company Securities, except to the extent that upon the issuance, acquisition or transfer of such securities or other interests, such securities or other interests would be treated as exercised under Treasury Regulations Section 1.382-4(d) or other applicable sections of the Treasury Regulations, (B) securities tendered pursuant to a tender offer or exchange offer made by or on behalf of such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange or (C) securities issuable upon the exercise or exchange of Rights;

(iii) which are owned, directly or indirectly, by any other Person, if such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) with such other Person or any of such other Person’s Affiliates or Associates for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of any securities of the Company; or

(iv) to the extent not included within the foregoing provisions of this Section 1(c), a Person shall be deemed the “Beneficial Owner” of and shall be deemed to “Beneficially Own” or have “Beneficial Ownership” of securities, if such Person would be deemed to constructively own such securities pursuant to Sections 1.382-2T(h) and 1.382-4(d) of the Treasury Regulations, such Person owns such securities pursuant to a “coordinated acquisition” treated as a single “entity” as defined in Section 1.382-3(a)(1) of the Treasury Regulations, or such securities are otherwise aggregated with securities owned by such Person, pursuant to the provisions of Section 382; moreover, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, all determinations of the percentage stock ownership in the Company shall be made in accordance with Sections 1.382-2(a)(3), 1.382-2T(g), (h), (j) and (k), 1.382-3(a), and 1.382-4(d) of the Treasury Regulations; provided, however, that for the sole purpose of determining the percentage stock ownership of an entity (and not for the purpose of determining the percentage stock ownership of any other Person), Company Securities shall not be treated as no longer owned by such entity pursuant to Section 1.382-2T(h)(2)(i)(A) of the Treasury Regulations; provided, however, that (i) a Person will not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially Own, any security (A) if such Person has the right to vote such security pursuant to an agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) which arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act by means of a solicitation statement filed on Schedule 14A, and (2) is not also then reportable on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report), or (B) if such Beneficial Ownership arises solely as a result of such Person’s status as a “clearing agency,” as defined in Section 3(a)(23) of the Exchange Act; (ii) nothing in this definition will 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 an underwriting syndicate until the expiration of forty (40) calendar days after the date of such acquisition, or such later date as the Board of Directors may determine in any specific case; (iii) subject to Section 1(c)(iv) above, a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially Own, any securities if (A) such securities would not be deemed constructively or otherwise owned by, or otherwise

 

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aggregated with shares owned by, such Person, and (B) such securities would not be deemed constructively or otherwise owned by a single “entity,” in each case, for purposes of Section 382; and (iv) a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially Own any securities which such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates would otherwise be deemed to Beneficially Own pursuant to this Section 1(c) solely as a result of any merger or other acquisition agreement between the Company and such Person (or one or more of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates), or any tender, voting or support agreement entered into by such Person (or one or more of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates) in connection therewith, if, prior to such Person becoming an Acquiring Person, the Board of Directors has approved such merger or other acquisition agreement and any such tender, voting or support agreement entered into in connection therewith.

Notwithstanding anything in this definition to the contrary, the phrase “then outstanding,” when used with reference to a Person who is Beneficial Owner of or who Beneficially Owns or a Person’s Beneficial Ownership of securities of the Company, shall mean the number of such securities then issued and outstanding together with the number of such securities not then actually issued and outstanding which such Person would be deemed to Beneficially Own hereunder.

For the avoidance of doubt, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, any options, warrants, or other rights (including any contingent rights) to acquire securities of the Company shall be treated as exercised for purposes of calculation of the numerator of the fraction for purposes of determining whether a Person is a Beneficial Owner of 4.9% or more of the Company Securities.

(d) “Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, or a day on which banking institutions in 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., New York time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., New York time, on the next succeeding Business Day.

(f) “Common Shares” shall mean (i) the shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company or (ii) if such common stock shall have been converted into or exchanged for other securities, the then authorized Equity Shares (as hereinafter defined) of the Company.

(g) “Company Securities” shall mean (i) the shares of Common Stock or, if such Common Stock shall have been converted into or exchanged for other securities, the then authorized Equity Shares (as hereinafter defined) of the Company, (ii) shares of preferred stock (other than preferred stock described in Section 1504(a)(4) of the Code) of the Company, (iii) warrants, rights, convertible debt, or options (including options within the meaning of Section 1.382-4(d)(9) of the Treasury Regulations) to purchase stock (other than preferred stock described in Section 1504(a)(4) of the Code) of the Company, and (iv) any other interest that would be treated as “stock” of the Company pursuant to Section 1.382-2T(f)(18) of the Treasury Regulations.

(h) “Distribution Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) hereof.

 

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(i) “Equity Shares” when used with reference to any Person (including the Company) shall mean the capital stock (or equity interest) with the greatest voting power in an election of directors or similar governing body of such other Person or, if such other Person is a Subsidiary of another Person, the Person or Persons which ultimately control such first-mentioned Person.

(j) “Equivalent Preferred Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(b) hereof.

(k) “Exchange Ratio” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 24(a) hereof.

(l) “Exempt Person” shall mean the Company, any Subsidiary (as hereinafter defined) of the Company, in each case including, without limitation, any officer or director thereof acting in their fiduciary capacity, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person holding Company Securities for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan.

(m) “Expiration Date” shall mean the earliest of (i) the date on which all of the Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof (the “Redemption Date”), (ii) the date on which the Rights are exchanged as provided in Section 24 hereof, (iii) the consummation of a reorganization transaction entered into by the Company resulting in the imposition of stock transfer restrictions that the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, determines will provide protection for the Company’s Tax Benefits similar to that provided by this Agreement, (iv) the Close of Business on the effective date of the repeal of Section 382 (but excluding the repeal or withdrawal of any Treasury Regulations thereunder), or any other change, if the Board of Directors determines in its sole discretion, that this Agreement is no longer necessary or desirable for the preservation of Tax Benefits, (v) the date on which the Board of Directors otherwise determines, in its sole discretion, that this Agreement is no longer necessary to preserve the Tax Benefits, and (vi) the first day of a taxable year of the Company to which the Board of Directors determines in its sole discretion, that no Tax Benefits may be carried forward.

(n) “Final Expiration Date” shall mean the Close of Business on the first anniversary of the date of this Agreement.

(o) “Person” shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited liability partnership, trust or other entity, or a group of Persons making a “coordinated acquisition” of shares or otherwise treated as an entity within the meaning of Section 1.382-3(a)(1) of the Treasury Regulations, and shall include (A) any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such individual or entity, as well as any group under Rule 13d-5(b)(1) of the Exchange Act, and (B) an unincorporated group of persons who, by formal or informal agreement or arrangement (whether or not in writing), have embarked on a common purpose or act, and also includes any successor (by merger or otherwise) of any such individual or entity, but shall not include a “public group” (as such term is defined in Section 1.382-2T(f)(13) of the Treasury Regulations).

(p) “Preferred Shares” shall mean shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company having the rights and preferences set forth in the Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series A Participating Preferred Stock attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A.

 

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(q) “Purchase Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4 hereof.

(r) “Redemption Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1(m) hereof.

(s) “Redemption Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 23(a) hereof.

(t) “Right Certificate” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) hereof.

(u) “Section 11(a)(ii) Event” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

(v) “Section 382” shall mean Section 382 of the Code, or any successor provision or replacement provision, and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

(w) “Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(x) “Shares Acquisition Date” shall mean the earlier of (i) 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) or Section 13(g) of the Exchange Act) by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such (or if such announcement occurs before the Record Date, the Close of Business on the Record Date) and (ii) the public disclosure of facts by the Company or an Acquiring Person indicating that an Acquiring Person has become such. To avoid doubt, no Shares Acquisition Date will be deemed to have occurred with respect to any Person who is determined by the Board of Directors not to have become an Acquiring Person in accordance with Section 1(a) hereto.

(y) “Subsidiary” of any Person shall mean any Person of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.

(z) “Summary of Rights” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(b) hereof.

(aa) “Tax Benefits” shall mean tax attributes, such as current year net operating loss and the net operating loss carryforwards, capital loss carryforwards, general business credit carryforwards, alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards and foreign tax credit carryforwards, as well as any loss or deduction attributable to a “net unrealized built-in loss” within the meaning of Section 382 of the Company or any direct or indirect Subsidiary thereof.

(bb) “Trading Day” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(d)(i) hereof.

(cc) “Treasury Regulations” shall mean the final and temporary (but not proposed) regulations promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time.

Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as rights agent for the Company in accordance with the express terms and conditions hereof (and no implied terms and conditions), and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company may from time to time appoint co-rights agents as it may deem necessary or desirable upon ten (10) Business Days’ notice to the Rights Agent. The Rights Agent

 

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shall have no duty to supervise, and in no event shall be liable for, the acts or omissions of any such co-rights agents. In the event the Company appoints one or more co-rights agents, the respective duties of the Rights Agent and any co-rights agent shall be as the Company shall reasonably determine, provided that such duties and determination are consistent with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and that contemporaneously with such appointment, if any, the Company shall notify the Rights Agent in writing thereof.

Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates.

(a) Until the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the tenth (10th) Business Day after the Shares Acquisition Date or (ii) the Close of Business on the tenth (10th) Business Day (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person) after the date of the commencement (with the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act) by any Person (other than an Exempt Person) of, or after the first public announcement of the intention of any Person (other than an Exempt Person) to commence a tender or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in any Person becoming an Acquiring Person (including in either such case, any such date which is after the date of this Agreement and prior to the issuance of the Rights; the earlier of such dates being herein referred to as the “Distribution Date”), (x) the Rights (unless earlier, expired, redeemed or terminated), will be evidenced (subject to Sections 3(b) and (c)) by the certificates for Common Shares registered in the names of the holders thereof (which certificates evidencing Common Shares shall also be deemed to be certificates evidencing Rights) and not by separate Right Certificates (or, for book entry shares, by notations in the respective accounts for Common Shares), (y) the registered holders of Common Shares shall also be the registered holders of the Rights issued with respect thereto and (z) the Rights will be transferable by, and only in connection with, the transfer of Common Shares (including a transfer to the Company). As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Company will prepare and execute, the Rights Agent will countersign, and the Company will send or cause to be sent (and the Rights Agent will, if requested and provided with all necessary information, send) by first-class, insured, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common Shares as of the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company or the transfer agent or registrar for the Common Shares, one or more rights certificates, in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (each, a “Right Certificate”), evidencing one Right for each Common Share so held, subject to adjustment as provided herein. As of and after the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Right Certificates, and the Rights will be transferable only separately from the transfer of Common Shares.

The Company shall promptly notify the Rights Agent in writing upon the occurrence of the Distribution Date and, if such notification is given orally, the Company shall confirm same in writing on or prior to the Business Day next following. Until such notice is received by the Rights Agent, the Rights Agent may presume conclusively for all purposes that the Distribution Date has not occurred.

(b) On the Record Date, or as soon as practicable thereafter, the Company will send a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares, in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto (the “Summary of Rights”), by first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to any holder of Rights who may so request from time to time prior to the earliest of the Distribution Date, the Expiration

 

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Date or the Final Expiration Date. Until the Distribution Date (or the earlier of the Expiration Date or the Final Expiration Date), the surrender for transfer of Common Shares, whether certificated or book entry shares, outstanding on the Record Date, with or without a copy of the Summary of Rights attached thereto, shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented thereby.

(c) The Company shall cause certificates for Common Shares which become issued and outstanding after the Record Date but prior to the earliest of the Distribution Date, the Expiration Date or the Final Expiration Date, to bear the following legend:

This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to certain rights as set forth in a Tax Benefits Preservation Plan between SeaChange International, Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. and any successor rights agent thereto, as Rights Agent (and any successor Rights Agent) dated as of August 16, 2023 (as it may be amended from time to time, the “Tax Benefits Preservation Plan”), the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal executive offices of SeaChange International, Inc. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan, such Rights will be evidenced by separate certificates and will no longer be evidenced by this certificate. SeaChange International, Inc. will mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan without charge after receipt of a written request therefor. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan, Rights issued to, or held by, any Person that is, was or becomes an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan), or the transferees thereof, may become null and void.

With respect to any book entry shares, a legend in substantially similar form will be noted in the book entry account reflecting ownership of such Common Shares. With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the earliest of the Distribution Date, the Expiration Date and the Final Expiration Date, the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented by such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone and registered holders of Common Shares shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights, and the surrender for transfer of any such certificate shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented thereby. Similarly, during such time periods, the transfers of book entry shares shall also be deemed to be transfers of the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented thereby. In the event that the Company purchases or acquires any Common Shares after the Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such Common Shares shall be deemed cancelled and retired so that the Company shall not be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with the Common Shares which are no longer outstanding. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 3(c) to the contrary, the omission of a legend shall not affect the enforceability of any part of this Agreement or the rights of any holder of Rights. With respect to any shares held in book entry form, such legend shall be included in a notice to the record holder of such shares in accordance with applicable law. In the event that Common Shares are not represented by certificates, references in this Agreement to certificates shall be deemed to refer to the notations in the book entry accounts reflecting ownership of such Common Shares.

 

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Section 4. Form of Right Certificates. The Right Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase Preferred Shares and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall each be substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto and may have such marks of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate (but which do not affect the rights, duties or responsibilities of the Rights Agent) and as are not inconsistent with this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the Rights may from time to time be listed or traded, or to conform to usage. Subject to Sections 7, 11 and 22 hereof, the Right Certificates shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share as shall be set forth therein at the price per one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share set forth therein (the “Purchase Price”), but the number of such one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share and the Purchase Price shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.

Section 5. Countersignature and Registration. The Right Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, any of its Vice Presidents, its Treasurer, Secretary or any other appropriate officer identified in a written notice to the Rights Agent, either manually or by facsimile signature, shall have affixed thereto the Company’s seal or a facsimile thereof, and shall be attested by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, either manually or by facsimile signature. The Right Certificates shall be countersigned by the Rights Agent (by manual or facsimile signature) and shall not be valid for any purpose unless countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Right Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by the Company, such Right Certificates, nevertheless, may be countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the Company with the same force and effect as though the Person who signed such Right Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Right Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by any Person who, at the actual date of the execution of such Right Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such Right Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Agreement any such Person was not such an officer.

Following the Distribution Date (provided that the Rights Agent has received written notice to that effect and all other relevant information referred to in Section 3(a)), the Rights Agent will keep or cause to be kept, at its office designated for such purpose, books for registration and transfer of the Right Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the names and addresses of the respective holders of the Right Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Right Certificates and the date of each of the Right Certificates.

Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates.

(a) Subject to Section 14 hereof, at any time after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and at or prior to the Close of Business on the earlier of the Expiration Date or the Final Expiration Date, any Right Certificate or Right Certificates (other than Right Certificates representing Rights that have become null and void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) or Section 23 hereof or that have been exchanged pursuant to Section 24 hereof) may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates, entitling the registered

 

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holder thereof to purchase a like number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share (or, following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, Common Shares, other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as the Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered then entitled such registered holder to purchase. Any registered holder desiring so to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Right Certificate or Right Certificates shall deliver such requests in writing to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Right Certificate or Right Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose accompanied by a signature guarantee from an eligible guarantor institution participating in a signature guarantee program approved by the Securities Transfer Association, and any other reasonable evidence of authority that may be reasonably required by the Rights Agent. The Right Certificates are transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered Right Certificate or Certificates until the registered holder thereof shall have (i) properly completed and duly signed the certificate contained in the form of assignment set forth on the reverse side of each such Right Certificate, (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby and the Affiliates and Associates of such Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) as the Company or the Rights Agent shall reasonably request, and (iii) paid a sum sufficient to cover any tax or charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Right Certificates as required by Section 9(e) hereof. Thereupon, the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto a Right Certificate or Right Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested, registered in such name or names as may be designated by the surrendering registered holder. The Rights Agent shall promptly forward any such sum collected by it to the Company or to such Persons as the Company shall specify by written notice. The Rights Agent shall have no duty or obligation under this Section 6(a) unless and until it is satisfied that all such taxes and/or charges as required by Section 9(e) hereto have been paid.

(b) Subject to Section 11(a)(ii) hereto at any time after the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date, upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Right Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security 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 Right Certificate if mutilated, the Company will make and deliver a new Right Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and delivery to the registered holder in lieu of the Right Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.

Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration.

(a) Subject to Section 11(a)(ii) hereto, the registered holder of any Right Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided in this Agreement) in whole or in part at any time after the Distribution Date upon surrender of the Right Certificate, with the form of election to purchase on the reverse side thereof properly completed and duly executed, to the Rights Agent at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose

 

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accompanied by a signature guarantee from an eligible guarantor institution participating in a signature guarantee program approved by the Securities Transfer Association, together with payment of the Purchase Price for each one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share as to which the Rights are exercised, and an amount equal to any tax or charge required to be paid under Section 9(e) hereof, by certified check, cashier’s check, bank draft or money order payable to the order of the Company, at or prior to the earlier of the Expiration Date and the Final Expiration Date. Except for those provisions herein which expressly survive the termination of this Agreement, this Agreement shall terminate at such time as the Rights are no longer exercisable hereunder.

(b) The Purchase Price for each one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share purchasable pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be twenty-five dollars ($25.00), and shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Section 11 hereof and shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of America in accordance with Section 7(c) below.

(c) Upon receipt of a Right Certificate representing exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase properly completed and duly executed, accompanied by payment of the Purchase Price for the shares to be purchased and an amount equal to any applicable tax or charge required to be paid under Section 9(e) hereof by certified check, cashier’s check, bank draft or money order payable to the order of the Company, and subject to Section 11(a)(ii) and Section 20(h) hereof, the Rights Agent shall thereupon promptly (i)(A) requisition from any transfer agent of the Preferred Shares certificates for the number of Preferred Shares to be purchased and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes each such transfer agent to comply with all such requests, or (B) requisition from the depositary agent depositary receipts representing such number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share as are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the Preferred Shares represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent with the depositary agent) and the Company hereby directs such depositary agent to comply with such request, (ii) when necessary, requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of issuance of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii) after receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such holder and (iv) when necessary, after receipt, deliver such cash to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate. Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Company and the Rights Agent may, at any time, amend this Agreement as the Company shall determine necessary to provide for uncertificated Preferred Shares or book-entry only depositary receipts in addition to or in place of Preferred Shares or depositary receipts evidenced by certificate or physical receipts, respectively.

(d) In case the registered holder of any Right Certificate shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Right Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent to the registered holder of such Right Certificate or to such holder’s duly authorized assigns, subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof.

(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to undertake any action with respect to a registered holder of Rights or other securities upon the occurrence of any purported exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless such registered holder shall have (i) properly completed and duly signed the

 

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certificate contained in the form of election to purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Right Certificate surrendered for such exercise and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby and of the Affiliates and Associates of such Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) as the Company or the Rights Agent shall reasonably request.

Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates. All Right Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up, combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or to any of its agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in cancelled form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be cancelled by it, and no Right Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and retire, any other Right Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. At the expense of the Company, the Rights Agent shall deliver all cancelled Right Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request of the Company, destroy such cancelled Right Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.

Section 9. Availability of Preferred Shares.

(a) The Company will cause to be reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued Preferred Shares (and, following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, out of its authorized and unissued Common Shares and/or other securities, as applicable), the number of Preferred Shares (and/or, following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the number of Common Shares and/or other securities, as applicable) that will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights in accordance with this Agreement. The Company will take all such action as may be necessary to ensure that all Preferred Shares (and, following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, Common Shares and/or other securities, as applicable) delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for such Preferred Shares (and/or following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, Common Shares and/or other securities, as applicable), subject to payment of the Purchase Price, be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and nonassessable shares.

(b) [Reserved].

(c) 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. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction unless the requisite registration or qualification under the securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdiction shall have been obtained.

(d) The Company will take all such action as may be necessary to ensure that all the Company’s capital stock issued and delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates therefor (subject to payment of the Purchase Price and compliance with all other applicable provisions of this Agreement), be duly and validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

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(e) The Company will pay when due and payable any and all taxes and charges which may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Right Certificates or of any Preferred Shares or other securities upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any tax or charge which may be payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of Right Certificates to a Person other than, or the issuance or delivery of certificates or depositary receipts for the Preferred Shares or other securities in a name other than that of, the registered holder of the Right Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or to deliver any certificates or depositary receipts for Preferred Shares upon the exercise of any Rights until any such tax or charge shall have been paid (any such tax or charge being payable by the holder of such Right Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has been established to the Company’s or the Rights Agent’s reasonable satisfaction that no such tax or charge is due.

Section 10. Shares Record Date. Each Person in whose name any certificate for Preferred Shares (or Common Shares and/or other securities, as the case may be) is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the Preferred Shares (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated the date upon which the Right Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price (and any applicable taxes or charges) was duly made; provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Preferred Shares (or Common Shares and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the Company are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such shares on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the Preferred Shares (or Common Shares and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the Company are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a Right Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a holder of Preferred Stock for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends or other distributions, and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein.

Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or Number of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number of Preferred Shares covered by each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 11.

(a) (i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the date of this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred Shares payable in Preferred Shares, (B) subdivide or split the outstanding Preferred Shares, (C) combine or consolidate the outstanding Preferred Shares into a smaller number of Preferred Shares, through a reverse stock split or otherwise or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of Preferred Shares (including without limitation any reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving entity), except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a), the Purchase Price in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or of the effective date of such subdivision, combination, consolidation or reclassification, and the number and kind of shares of capital stock issuable on such date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised after such time shall be entitled to receive the aggregate number and kind of shares of capital stock which, if such Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date and at a time when the Preferred Shares transfer books of the Company were open, it would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination,

 

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consolidation or reclassification; provided, however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of one Right. If an event occurs that would require an adjustment under this Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii) below, 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) below.

(ii) Subject to Section 23 of this Agreement, and to the immediately succeeding paragraph, in the event any Person becomes an Acquiring Person (this event being referred to as a “Section 11(a)(ii) Event”), each holder of a Right (except as set forth in the immediately following paragraph) shall thereafter have a right to receive, upon exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, in lieu of Preferred Shares, such number of Common Shares as shall equal the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event and dividing that product by (y) 50% of the then current per share market price of the Company’s Common Shares (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the date of the occurrence of such event (such number of Common Shares, the “Adjustment Shares”); provided that in connection with any exercise effected pursuant to this Section 11(a)(ii), the Board of Directors may (but shall not be required to) determine that a holder of Rights shall not be entitled to receive Common Shares of the Company that would result in such holder, together with such holder’s Affiliates, becoming the Beneficial Owner of 4.9% or more of the Company Securities then outstanding. If a holder would, but for the previous clause, be entitled to receive a number of Common Shares of the Company that would result in such holder, together with such holder’s Affiliates becoming the Beneficial Owner of 4.9% or more of the Company Securities then outstanding (such shares, the “Excess Flip-In Shares”), in lieu of receiving such Excess Flip-In Shares, such holder will be entitled to receive an amount in (1) cash, (2) debt securities of the Company, (3) other assets, or (4) any combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value equal to the current per share market price on the Shares Acquisition Date multiplied by the number of Excess Flip-In Shares that would otherwise have been issuable to such holder. In the event that a Section 11(a)(ii) Event occurs and the Rights are then outstanding, the Company shall not take any action which would eliminate or diminish the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.

From and after the occurrence of such a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, any Rights that are or were acquired or Beneficially Owned by any Acquiring Person (or any Associate or Affiliate of such Acquiring Person) shall be null and void without any further action and any holder of such Rights shall thereafter have no right whatsoever with respect to such Rights, under any provision of this Agreement or otherwise. No Right Certificate shall be issued (1) pursuant to Section 3 to an Acquiring Person whose Rights would be null and void pursuant to the preceding sentence or any Associate or Affiliate or nominee thereof; (2) to any transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any Associate or Affiliate of such Acquiring Person) 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 which the Acquiring Person has any continuing plan, agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer that the Board of Directors has determined is part of a plan, agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) that has the primary purpose or effect

 

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the avoidance of this Section 11(a)(ii); or (3) to subsequent transferees of the foregoing Persons described in this paragraph and any Rights acquired by such Persons shall be null and void without any further action and any holder of such Rights shall thereafter have no right whatsoever with respect to such Rights, under any provision of this Agreement or otherwise. Any Right Certificate delivered to the Rights Agent for transfer to an Acquiring Person whose Rights would be null and void pursuant to the preceding sentence or any Associate or Affiliate thereof or to any nominee of such Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate shall be cancelled. The Company shall give the Rights Agent written notice of the identity of any such Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate, or the nominee or transferee of any of the foregoing, and the Rights Agent may rely on such notice in carrying out its duties under this Agreement and shall be deemed not to have any knowledge of the identity of any such Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate, or the nominee or transferee of any of the foregoing unless and until it shall have received such notice. The Company and the Rights Agent shall have no liability to any holder of a Right Certificate or any other Person as a result of the Company’s failure to make any determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or any of such Acquiring Person’s Affiliates or Associates or their respective nominees or transferees hereunder.

(iii) In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common Shares issued but not outstanding, or authorized but unissued (and not subject to reservation) pursuant to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii) and the Rights shall become so exercisable, the Company shall take all such action as may be necessary (including, to the extent required by law, seeking stockholder approval for the authorization of additional shares) to authorize additional Common Shares for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights; provided, however, that if the Company after using its reasonable best efforts to do so is unable to cause the authorization of a sufficient number of additional Common Shares within 120 days (the “Substitution Period”), the Company shall: (A) determine the value of the Adjustment Shares issuable upon the exercise of a Right (the “Current Value”) and (B) with respect to each Right (other than those rights which have become null and void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereto), upon the exercise of such Right and payment of the applicable Purchase Price, make adequate provision to substitute for the Adjustment Shares (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (3) equity securities other than Common Shares (including shares, or units of shares, of preferred stock of the Company which, by virtue of having dividend, voting and liquidation rights substantially comparable to the class of Common Shares for which a Right is exercisable are determined by the Board of Directors to have essentially the same value as the class or series of Common Shares for which a Right is exercisable (such shares or units of shares of preferred stock are herein called “Common Share Equivalents”)), (4) debt securities of the Company, (5) other assets, or (6) any combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value which, when added to the value of the Common Shares actually issued upon exercise of such Right, shall have an aggregate value equal to the Current Value (less the amount of any reduction in the Purchase Price), where such aggregate value has been determined by the Board of Directors based upon the advice of a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm selected by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that if the Company shall not have made adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above within 120 days following the later of (x) a Section 11(a)(ii) Event and (y) the date on which the Company’s right of redemption pursuant to Section 23(a) expires, then the Company shall be obligated to deliver, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and without requiring payment of the Purchase Price, Common Shares for which a Right is exercisable (to the extent available) and then, if necessary,

 

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cash or shares of capital stock of the Company, which shares and cash have an aggregate value equal to the excess of the Current Value over the Purchase Price. To the extent that the Company determines that action needs to be taken pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 11(a)(iii), the Company (x) shall provide (subject to Section 11(a)(ii) 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 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 Section 11(a)(iii), the value of each Adjustment Share shall be the current per share market price of the Common Shares (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) on the date of occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event and the per share or per unit value of any Common Share Equivalent shall be deemed to equal the current per share market price of the Common Shares (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) 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 Preferred Shares entitling them (for a period expiring within forty-five (45) calendar days after such record date) to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares or shares having the same rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred Shares (the “Equivalent Preferred Shares”) or securities convertible into Preferred Shares or Equivalent Preferred Shares at a price per Preferred Share or Equivalent Preferred Share (or having a conversion price per share, if a security is convertible into Preferred Shares or Equivalent Preferred Shares) less than the then current per share market price of the Preferred Shares (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on such record date, the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date plus the number of Preferred Shares which the aggregate price of the total number of Preferred Shares and/or Equivalent Preferred Shares so to be offered (plus the aggregate initial conversion price of any such convertible securities so to be offered) would purchase at such current market price, and the denominator of which shall be the number of Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date plus the number of additional Preferred Shares and/or Equivalent Preferred Shares to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be offered are initially convertible); provided, however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of one Right. In case such subscription price may be paid in a consideration part or all of which shall be in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent. Preferred Shares owned by or held for the account of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the event that such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.

 

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(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the making of a distribution to all holders of the Preferred Shares (including without limitation any such distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) of securities (including evidences of indebtedness) or assets (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend or a dividend payable in Preferred Shares) or rights, options or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b) hereof), the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the then current per share market price of the Preferred Shares on such record date, less the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent) of the portion of the securities or assets or of such rights, options or warrants so to be distributed applicable to one Preferred Share, and the denominator of which shall be such current per share market price of the Preferred Shares; provided, however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company to be issued upon exercise of one Right. Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the event that such distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall again be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.

(d) (i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder and subject to Section 11(d)(ii), the “current per share market price” of any security (a “Security” for the purpose of this Section 11(d)(i)) on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of such Security for the thirty (30) consecutive Trading Days (as hereinafter defined) immediately prior to but not including such date; provided, however, that in the event that the current per share market price of the Security is determined during a period following the announcement by the issuer of such Security of (A) a dividend or distribution on such Security payable in shares of such Security or securities convertible into such Security, or (B) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such Security, and prior to the expiration of thirty (30) Trading Days after but not including the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or the record date for such subdivision, combination or reclassification, then, and in each such case, the current per share market price shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect the current market price per share equivalent of such Security. The closing price for each day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC or, if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the Security is listed or admitted to trading or, if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations System, or, if on any such date the Security is not quoted by any such system, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Security selected in good faith by the Board of Directors. If on any such date no market maker is making a market in the Security, the fair value of such Security on such date will be determined by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and which shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes hereunder. The term “Trading Day” shall mean a day on which the principal national securities exchange on which the Security is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day.

 

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(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, if the Preferred Shares are publicly traded, the “current per share market price” of the Preferred Shares shall be determined in accordance with the method set forth in Section 11(d)(i). If the Preferred Shares are not publicly traded but the Common Shares are publicly traded, the “current per share market price” of the Preferred Shares shall be conclusively deemed to be the current per share market price of the Common Shares as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) (appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof), multiplied by one hundred. If neither the Common Shares nor the Preferred Shares are publicly traded, the “current per share market price” shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be described in a written statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights.

(e) No adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least one percent (1%) in the Purchase Price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section 11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one-millionth of a Preferred Share or one ten-thousandth of any other share or security as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e), any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier of (i) three years from the date of the transaction which requires such adjustment or (ii) the Final Expiration Date.

(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock of the Company other than Preferred Shares, thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of any Right shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the Preferred Shares contained in Section 11(a) through (e), inclusive, and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10 and 14 with respect to the Preferred Shares shall apply on like terms to any such other shares.

(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.

(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as provided in Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a result of the calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c) hereof, each Right outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share (calculated to the nearest one one-millionth of a Preferred Share) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of one one-hundredths of a share 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.

 

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(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in substitution for any adjustment in the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share purchasable upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the unexercised Rights outstanding after such adjustment of the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment. Each unexercised Right held outstanding prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that number of unexercised Rights (calculated to the nearest one ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The Company shall make a public announcement (with prompt written notice thereof to the Rights Agent) of its election to adjust the number of Rights, indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. This record date may be the date on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Right Certificates have been issued, shall be at least ten (10) days after the date of the public announcement. If Right Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of Right Certificates on such record date Right Certificates evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement for the Right Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new Right Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such adjustment. Right Certificates to be distributed pursuant to this Section 11(i) shall be issued, executed and delivered by the Company, and countersigned and delivered by the Rights Agent, in the manner provided for herein and shall be registered in the names of the holders of record of Right Certificates on the record date specified in the public announcement.

(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share or other securities issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Right Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express the Purchase Price and the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share that were expressed in the initial Right Certificates issued hereunder.

(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing the Purchase Price below one one-hundredth of the then par value, if any, of the Preferred Shares issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take any corporate action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable Preferred Shares at such adjusted Purchase Price.

(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that any adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a specified event, the Company may elect to defer (with prompt written notice thereof to the Rights Agent) until the occurrence of such event the issuing to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date of the Preferred Shares and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above

 

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the Preferred Shares and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided, however, that the Company shall deliver to such holder a due bill or other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder’s right to receive such additional shares upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.

(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall be entitled to make such adjustments to the Purchase Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, as and to the extent that the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, shall determine to be advisable in order that any consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred Shares, issuance wholly for cash of any Preferred Shares at less than the current market price, issuance wholly for cash of Preferred Shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Preferred Shares, dividends on Preferred Shares payable in Preferred Shares or issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to hereinabove in Section 11(b), hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Preferred Shares shall not be taxable to such stockholders.

(n) In the event that at any time after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Distribution Date, the Company shall (i) declare or pay any dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or (ii) effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common Shares (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of dividends in Common Shares) into a greater or lesser number of Common Shares, then in any such case (A) the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share purchasable after such event upon proper exercise of each Right shall be adjusted to be equal to the product of (x) the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Shares so purchasable immediately prior to such event and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately before such event and the denominator of which is the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately after such event, and (B) the Company shall issue with respect to each Common Share outstanding immediately after such event that number of Rights which each Common Share outstanding immediately prior to such event had issued with respect to it. The adjustments provided for in this Section 11(n) shall be made successively whenever such a dividend is declared or paid or such a subdivision, combination or consolidation is effected.

Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares. Whenever an adjustment is made or any event affecting the Rights or their exercisability (including without limitation an event which causes Rights to become null and void) occurs as provided in Section 11 hereof, the Company shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment or describing such event, and a brief, reasonably detailed statement of the facts, computations and methodology accounting for any adjustment, (b) file with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Common Shares or the Preferred Shares a copy of such certificate and (c) if a Distribution Date has occurred, mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Right Certificate in accordance with Section 25 and Section 26 hereof. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment or statement therein contained and shall have no duty or liability with respect to, and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of, any adjustment or any such event unless and until it shall have received such a certificate.

Section 13. [Reserved].

 

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Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.

(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or to distribute Right Certificates which evidence fractional Rights except prior to the Distribution Date as provided in Section 11(n) hereof. In lieu of such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole Right. For the purposes of this Section 14(a), the current market value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would have been otherwise issuable. The closing price for any day shall be determined in accordance with Section 11(d) hereof.

(b) Subject to this Section 14(b), the Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Preferred Shares (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Preferred Shares (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share). Fractions of Preferred Shares in integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts, pursuant to an appropriate agreement between the Company and a depositary selected by it, provided that such agreement shall provide that the holders of such depositary receipts shall have all the rights, privileges and preferences to which they are entitled as beneficial owners of the Preferred Shares represented by such depositary receipts. In lieu of fractional Preferred Shares that are not integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of Right Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of one Preferred Share. For the purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market value of a Preferred Share shall be the closing price of a Preferred Share (as determined in accordance with 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 a Right (except as expressly provided above).

(d) Whenever a payment for fractional Rights or fractional shares is to be made by the Rights Agent under this Agreement, the Company shall (i) promptly prepare and deliver to the Rights Agent a certificate setting forth in reasonable detail the facts related to such payments and the prices and/or formulas utilized in calculating such payments, and (ii) provide sufficient monies to the Rights Agent in the form of fully collected funds to make such payments. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying upon such a certificate and shall have no duty with respect to, and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any payment for fractional Rights or fractional shares under any Section of this Agreement relating to the payment of fractional Rights or fractional shares unless and until the Rights Agent shall have received such a certificate and sufficient monies.

Section 15. Rights of Action.

 

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(a) All rights of action in respect of this Agreement, excepting the rights of action given to the Rights Agent under Section 18 and Section 20 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the Common Shares). Any registered holder of any Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), may, in its own behalf and for its own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, its right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares) in the manner provided in such Right Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for any breach by the Company of this Agreement and will be entitled to specific performance of the obligations under, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement.

(b) 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, judgment, decree or ruling (whether interlocutory or final) issued by a court or by a governmental, regulatory, self-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, that the Company must use all reasonable efforts to have any such injunction, order, judgment, decree or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned as soon as possible.

Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders. Every holder of a Right, by accepting such Right, 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 not be represented by a Right Certificate and will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of the Common Shares;

(b) after the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates are transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose accompanied by a signature guarantee and any other reasonable evidence of authority that may be reasonably required by the Rights Agent, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer; and

(c) the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the Person in whose name the Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common Shares certificate or book entry share position) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the Right Certificates or the associated Common Shares certificate or book entry share position made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agents for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

 

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Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No holder, as such, of any Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote or receive dividends or other distributions in respect of, or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred Shares or any other securities which may at any time be issuable on the exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any Right Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Right Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in Section 25 hereof), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the provisions hereof.

Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.

(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and other disbursements incurred in the preparation, delivery, amendment, 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, damage, judgment, fine, penalty, claim, demand, settlement, cost or expense (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel), incurred without gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent (which gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct must be determined by a final, non-appealable order, judgment, decree or ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction), for any action taken, suffered or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance, administration, exercise and performance of its duties under this Agreement. The costs and expenses incurred in enforcing this right of indemnification shall be paid by the Company. The provisions of this Section 18 and Section 20 below shall survive the termination of this Agreement, the exercise or expiration of the Rights and the resignation, replacement or removal of the Rights Agent.

(b) The Rights Agent shall be authorized and protected and shall incur no liability for, or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection with its acceptance and administration of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder, in reliance upon any Right Certificate or certificate (or registration on the transfer books of the Company, including in the case of uncertificated shares, by notation in book entry accounts reflecting ownership) for the Preferred Shares or Common Shares or for other securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement, or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons, or otherwise upon the advice of counsel as set forth in Section 20 hereof.

 

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Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.

(a) Any Person into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to the shareholder services business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided, that such Person would be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under Section 21 hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this Agreement, any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Right Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Rights Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Right Certificates and in this Agreement.

(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed and at such time any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name and deliver Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Right Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Right Certificates and in this Agreement.

Section 20. Rights and Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes to perform only the duties and obligations expressly imposed by this Agreement (and no implied duties and obligations) upon the following terms and conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Right Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:

(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal counsel for the Company or an employee of the Rights Agent), and the advice or opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent and the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in the absence of bad faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion.

(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter (including without limitation, the identity of an Acquiring Person and the determination of the current per share market price of any security) be proved or established by the Company prior to taking, suffering or omitting to take any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by any one of the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, any Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company or any other appropriate officer of the Company identified in a written notice to the Rights Agent and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent and the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.

 

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(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder to the Company and any other Person only for its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct (which gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct must be determined by a final, non-appealable order, judgment, decree or ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction). Anything to the contrary notwithstanding, in no event shall the Rights Agent be liable for special, punitive, indirect, consequential or incidental loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even if the Rights Agent has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage. Any liability of the Rights Agent under this Agreement will be limited to the amount of fees (but not reimbursed expenses) paid by the Company to the Rights Agent during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the event for which recovery from the Rights Agent is being sought.

(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the Right Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be required to verify the same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.

(e) The Rights Agent shall not have any liability for or be under any responsibility in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the validity or execution of any Right Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Right Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any change in the exercisability of the Rights (including the Rights becoming null and void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) or any change or adjustment in the terms of the Rights (including the manner, method or amount thereof) provided for in Sections 3, 11, 23 or 24 hereto, or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such change or adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Right Certificates after receipt of the certificate described in Section 12 hereof, upon which the Rights Agent may rely); nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any Preferred Shares to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Right Certificate or as to whether any Preferred Shares will, when issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

(f) The Company will perform, execute, acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.

(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from any one of the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, any Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company or any other appropriate officer of the Company identified in a written notice to the Rights Agent, and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and such instructions shall be full authorization and protection to the Rights Agent and the Rights Agent shall not be liable for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in accordance with instructions of any such officer or for any delay in acting while waiting for those instructions.

 

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(h) If, with respect to any Right 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 properly completed or indicates an affirmative response to clause 1 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.

(i) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, affiliate, director, officer or employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though the Rights Agent were not Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent or any such stockholder, affiliate, director, officer or employee from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other Person.

(j) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself (through its directors, officers and employees) or by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company or any other Person resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct, absent gross negligence or bad faith in the selection and continued employment thereof (which gross negligence or bad faith must be determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction).

(k) 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 it believes that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

(l) 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 it believes that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

(m) The Rights Agent shall not be required to take notice or be deemed to have notice of any event or condition hereunder, including any event or condition that may require action by the Rights Agent, unless the Rights Agent shall be specifically notified in writing of such event or condition by the Company, and all notices or other instruments required by this Agreement to be delivered to the Rights Agent must, in order to be effective, be received by the Rights Agent as specified in Sections 25 and 26 hereof, and in the absence of such notice so delivered, the Rights Agent may conclusively assume no such event or condition exists.

(n) The Rights Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility in the case of the receipt of any written demand from any holder of Rights with respect to any action or default by the Company, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any duty or responsibility to initiate or attempt to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise or to make any demand upon the Company.

 

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(o) The Rights Agent shall not be liable or responsible for any failure of the Company to comply with any of its obligations relating to this Agreement, including without limitation obligations under applicable regulation or law.

(p) The Rights Agent shall not be accountable or under any duty or responsibility for the use by the Company of any Rights authenticated by the Rights Agent and delivered by it to the Company pursuant to this Agreement or for the application by the Company of the proceeds of the issue and sale, or exercise, of the Rights.

(q) The Rights Agent shall not assume any obligations or relationship of agency or trust with any of the owners or holders of the Rights.

(r) The Rights Agent may rely on and be fully authorized and protected in acting or failing to act upon (i) any guaranty of signature by an “eligible guarantor institution” that is a member or participant in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program or other comparable “signature guarantee program” or insurance program in addition to, or in substitution for, the foregoing; or (ii) any law, act, regulation or any interpretation of the same even though such law, act, or regulation may thereafter have been altered, changed, amended or repealed.

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, if other than an affiliate of the Rights Agent, to each transfer agent of the Common Shares or Preferred Shares known to the Rights Agent by registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the Right Certificates by first-class mail. In the event the transfer agency relationship in effect between the Company and the Rights Agent terminates, the Rights Agent will be deemed to have resigned automatically and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement as of the effective date of such termination, and the Company shall be responsible for sending any required notice under this Section 21. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon thirty (30) days’ notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent in accordance with Section 26, and to each transfer agent of the Common Shares or Preferred Shares by registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the Right Certificates by (i) first-class mail or (ii) disclosure in a press release of the Company or in any other communication of the Company with its stockholders. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Right Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Right Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the registered holder of any Right Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be (a) a Person organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States, in good standing, which is authorized under such laws to exercise stock transfer powers and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and which has at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million or (b) an Affiliate of such a Person. 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

 

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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 , but such predecessor Rights Agent shall not be required to make any additional expenditure or assume any additional liability in connection with the foregoing. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment the Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent in accordance with Section 25 and each transfer agent of the Common Shares or Preferred Shares, and give notice thereof to the registered holders of the Right Certificates or, if prior to the Distribution Date, the holders of record of the Common Shares, by (1) first-class mail or (2) disclosure in a press release of the Company or in a periodic report of the Company required to be filed under the Exchange Act or in any other communication of the Company with its stockholders. Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.

Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates. Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new Right Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other securities or property purchasable under the Right Certificates made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection with the issuance or sale of Common Shares following the Distribution Date and prior to the redemption or expiration of the Rights, the Company (a) shall, with respect to Common Shares so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options or pursuant to awards under any employee plan or arrangement, which stock options or awards are outstanding as of the Distribution Date, or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of securities issued by the Company after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Distribution Date, and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board of Directors, issue Right Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale; provided, however, that no such Right Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, (x) 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 Right Certificate would be issued and (y) appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.

Section 23. Redemption.

(a) The Board of Directors may, at its option, at any time prior to the earliest of the Distribution Date, the Expiration Date and the Final Expiration Date, direct the Company to, and, if so directed, the Company shall, redeem all but not less than all the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $0.0001 per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such redemption price being hereinafter referred to as the “Redemption Price”). 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. The Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price in cash, shares of Common Shares (based on the current market value of the Common Shares at the time of redemption) or any other form of consideration deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors. For the purposes of this Section 23(a), the current market value of a Common Share shall be the closing price of a Common Share

 

29


(as determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of redemption pursuant to this Section 23. The redemption of the Rights by the Board of Directors may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish.

(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering the redemption of the Rights pursuant to Section 23(a) (or at such later time as the Board of Directors may establish for the effectiveness of such redemption), and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price. The Company shall promptly give public notice of any such redemption (with prompt written notice thereof to the Rights Agent); provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, any such notice shall not affect the legality or validity of such redemption. Within ten (10) days after such action of the Board of Directors so ordering the redemption of the Rights pursuant to Section 23(a), the Company shall mail a notice of redemption to all the holders of the then outstanding Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common Shares. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption will state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made. Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates or Associates may redeem, acquire or purchase for value any Rights at any time in any manner other than that specifically set forth in this Section 23 or in Section 24, and other than in connection with the purchase of Common Shares prior to the Distribution Date.

(c) In connection with any redemption permitted under this Section 23, the Company may, at its option, discharge all of its obligations with respect to the Rights by (i) issuing a press release announcing the manner of redemption of the Rights and (ii) mailing payment of the Redemption Price to the registered holders of the Rights at their last addresses as they appear on the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common Shares, and, upon such action, all outstanding Right Certificates shall be null and void without any further action of the Company.

Section 24. Exchange.

(a) The Board of Directors may, at its option, at any time after a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, exchange all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become null and void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) for Common Shares at a ratio of one (1) Common Share per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the “Exchange Ratio”); provided, however, that in connection with any exchange effected pursuant to this Section 24, the Board of Directors may (but shall not be required to) determine that a holder of Rights shall not be entitled to receive Common Shares that would result in such holder, together with such holder’s Affiliates, becoming the Beneficial Owner of 4.9% or more of the Company Securities then outstanding. If a holder would, but for the proviso set forth in the previous sentence, be entitled to receive a number of shares under this Section 24 that would otherwise result in such holder, together with such holder’s Affiliates, becoming the Beneficial Owner of 4.9% or more of the Company Securities then outstanding (such shares, the

 

30


Excess Exchange Shares”), in lieu of receiving such Excess Exchange Shares, such holder will be entitled to receive an amount in (1) cash, (2) debt securities of the Company, (3) other assets, or (4) any combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value equal to the current per share market price of Common Shares on the date of the Shares Acquisition Date or Distribution Date, as applicable, multiplied by the number of Excess Exchange Shares that would otherwise have been issuable to such holder. Any such exchange will be effective immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering the same, unless such action of the Board of Directors expressly provides that such exchange will be effective at a subsequent time or upon the occurrence or nonoccurrence of one or more specified events (in which case such exchange will be effective in accordance with the provisions of such action of the Board of Directors). Without limiting the foregoing, prior to effecting an exchange pursuant to this Section 24, the Board of Directors may enter into a Trust Agreement in such form and with such terms as the Board of Directors shall then approve (the “Trust Agreement”). If the Board of Directors so directs, the Company shall enter into the Trust Agreement and shall issue to the trust created by such agreement (the “Trust”) all of the Common Shares issuable pursuant to the exchange (or any portion thereof that has not theretofore been issued in connection with the exchange). From and after the time at which such shares are issued to the Trust, all stockholders then entitled to receive shares pursuant to the exchange shall be entitled to receive such shares (and any dividends or distributions made thereon after the date on which such shares are deposited in the Trust) only from the Trust and solely upon compliance with the relevant terms and provisions of the Trust Agreement. Any Common Shares issued at the direction of the Board of Directors in connection herewith shall be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable Common Shares, and the Company shall be deemed to have received as consideration for such issuance a benefit having a value that is at least equal to the aggregate par value of the shares so issued.

(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to Section 24(a) and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of such Rights shall be to receive that number of Common Shares equal to the number of such Rights held by such holder multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The Company shall promptly give public notice of any such exchange (with prompt written notice thereof to the Rights Agent); provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the legality or validity of such exchange. The Company promptly shall mail a notice of any such exchange to all the holders of such Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of exchange will state the method by which the exchange of the Common Shares for Rights will be effected and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights which will be exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the number of Rights (other than Rights which have become null and void pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.

(c) In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common Shares issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit any exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with this Section 24, the Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to authorize additional Common Shares for issuance upon exchange of the Rights.

 

31


(d) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Common Shares or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Common Shares. In lieu of such fractional Common Shares, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional Common Shares would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole Common Share. For the purposes of this Section 24(d), the current market value of a whole Common Share shall be the closing price of a Common Share (as determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of exchange pursuant to this Section 24.

Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.

(a) In case the Company shall propose, at any time after the earlier of the Share Acquisition Date and the Distribution Date, (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the holders of its Preferred Shares or to make any other distribution to the holders of its Preferred Shares (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend), (ii) to offer to the holders of its Preferred Shares rights, options, or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional Preferred Shares or shares of stock of any class or any other securities, rights, options, or warrants, (iii) to effect any reclassification of Preferred Shares (other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding Preferred Shares), (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger into or with, to effect any share exchange with, or to effect any sale, disposition or other transfer (or to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale, disposition or other transfer), in one or more transactions, of fifty percent (50%) or more of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to, any other Person, (v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, or (vi) to declare or pay any dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or to effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common Shares (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of dividends in Common Shares), then, in each such case, the Company shall give to the Rights Agent and, to the extent feasible, to each holder of a Right Certificate, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the record date for the purposes of such stock dividend, or distribution of rights, options or warrants, or the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, share exchange, disposition, transfer, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the date of participation therein by the holders of the Common Shares and/or Preferred Shares, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least ten (10) days prior to the record date for determining holders of the Preferred Shares for purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of participation therein by the holders of the Common Shares and/or Preferred Shares, whichever shall be the earlier.

(b) In the event that any Section 11(a)(ii) Event shall occur, then the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to the Rights Agent and, to the extent feasible, to each holder of a Right Certificate, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event, which notice shall describe such event and the consequences of such event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

 

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Section 26. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Right Certificate to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if in writing and when sent or delivered by a recognized national overnight delivery service or by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:

SeaChange International, Inc.

177 Huntington Avenue, Suite 1703, PMB 73480

Boston, MA 02115

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, any notice or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Right Certificate (or prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder of any certificate representing Common Shares) to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if in writing and when sent or delivered by a recognized national overnight delivery service or by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Company) as follows:

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

250 Royall Street

Canton, MA 02021

Attention: Client Services

Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Right Certificate shall be sufficiently given or made if sent or delivered by a recognized national overnight delivery service or by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown on the registry books of the Company.

Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. Subject to this Section 27, the Company may from time to time supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of Right Certificates in order to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to the Rights which the Company may deem necessary or desirable, any such supplement or amendment to be evidenced by a writing signed by the Company and the Rights Agent (upon the delivery of a certificate to the Rights Agent from an appropriate officer of the Company that the proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 27); provided, however, that from and after such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, this Agreement shall not be amended in any manner which would adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights (other than an Acquiring Person and its Affiliates and Associates). Prior to the Distribution Date, the interests of the holders of Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests of the holders of Common Shares.

Section 28. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not be assignable by either party without the prior written consent of the other party except as otherwise expressly contemplated by Section 19.

 

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Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc. The Board of Directors shall have the exclusive power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically granted to the Board of Directors or to the Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of Section 382, and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this Agreement (including a determination with respect to the redemption or exchange of the Rights or to amend this Agreement). All such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations (including, for purpose of clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the foregoing) that are done or made by the Board of Directors in good faith shall, without limiting any of the rights and immunities or expanding the duties and obligations of the Rights Agent, (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights and all other Persons, and (y) not subject the Board of Directors to any liability to the holders of the Rights. The Rights Agent is entitled always to assume the Board of Directors acted in good faith and shall be fully protected and incur no liability in reliance thereon.

Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, registered holders of the Common Shares) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement. This Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, registered holders of the Common Shares).

Section 31. Severability. If any term, provision covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated; provided, however, that if the exclusion of such provision shall adversely affect the rights, immunities, liabilities, duties or obligations of the Rights Agent, the Rights Agent shall be entitled to resign immediately upon written notice to the Company.

Section 32. Governing Law. This Agreement, each Right and each Right Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of New York (without giving effect to any rule or principle that would result in application of the law of any other jurisdiction) and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely within such State.

Section 33. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. A signature to this Agreement executed or transmitted electronically shall have the same authority, effect and enforceability as an original signature.

Section 34. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the several Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof

 

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Section 35. Construction; Interpretation. The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms. Whenever the context may require, any pronouns used herein shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of names and pronouns shall include the plural and vice versa. The word “including” and “include” and other words of similar import will be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The words “herein,” “hereto” and “hereby,” and other words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Section or other subdivision of this Agreement. References to sections, subsections, clauses, subclauses, subparagraphs, recitals, the preamble and exhibits are references to sections, subsections, clauses, subclauses, subparagraphs, recital, the preamble and exhibits of this Agreement. Any reference herein to law or to a law, statute, rule or regulation of any governmental entity (or any provision thereof) shall include all laws and such law, statute, rule or regulation promulgated thereunder (or provision thereof), including any successor thereto, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and attested, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

Attest:     SEACHANGE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By:   /s/ Elaine Martel     By:   /s/ Peter D. Aquino
Title:   Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary     Name:   Peter D. Aquino
      Title:   Chief Executive Officer
Attest:      

COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

as Rights Agent

By:   /s/ Kathy Heagerty     By:   /s/ Patrick Hayes
Title:   Manager, Client Management     Name:   Patrick Hayes
      Title:   Manager, Client Management


Exhibit A.

CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RIGHTS

of

SERIES A PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK

of

SEACHANGE INTERNATIONAL, INC.

 

 

(Pursuant to Section 151 of the

Delaware General Corporation Law)

 

 

SeaChange International, Inc. (hereinafter called the “Corporation”), a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), hereby certifies that the following resolution was adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) as required by Section 151 of the DGCL at a meeting duly called and held on March 4, 2019:

RESOLVED: that, pursuant to authority expressly granted to and vested in the Board by the provisions of its certificate of incorporation and applicable law, a series of the Corporation’s undesignated Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Stock”), be and is hereby designated as Series A Participating Preferred Stock, which Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall consist of 1,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock and shall have the powers, preferences and rights, and the qualification, limitations or restrictions thereof, as set forth on Exhibit A hereto.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Designation is executed on behalf of the Corporation by its Chief Financial Officer this 5th day of March, 2019.

 

SEACHANGE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By:   /s/ Peter Faubert
  Name: Peter Faubert
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

A-1


Exhibit A

Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of this series of Preferred Stock pursuant to this certificate of designations, preferences and rights (the “Certificate of Designations”) shall be designated as “Series A Participating Preferred Stock” (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) and the number of shares constituting the Series A Preferred Stock shall be one million (1,000,000). Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board provided, that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to a number less than the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock then outstanding plus the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon the conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the Corporation convertible into Series A Preferred Stock.

Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.

(a) Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of any series of Preferred Stock (or any other stock) ranking prior and superior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose, in preference to the holders of shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation (the “Common Stock”), quarterly dividends payable in cash on the last day of March, June, September and December in each year (each such date being referred to herein as a “Quarterly Dividend Payment Date”), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, in an amount (if any) per share (rounded to the nearest cent), subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to one hundred (100) times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and one hundred (100) times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions, other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

(b) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) of this Section immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock).

 

A-2


(c) Dividends due pursuant to paragraph (A) of this Section shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares, unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be not more than sixty (60) days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.

Section 3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:

(a) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one hundred (100) votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, including any other certificate of designations creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock, or by law, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock and any other capital stock of the Corporation having general voting rights shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.

(c) Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise required by law, holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any corporate action.

 

A-3


Section 4. Certain Restrictions.

(a) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions payable on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:

(i) declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, on any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock;

(ii) declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series A Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then entitled;

(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such junior stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking junior (as to dividends and upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock; or

(iv) purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of Series A Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as determined by the Board) to all holders of such shares upon such terms as the Board, after consideration of the respective annual dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of the respective series and classes, shall determine in good faith will result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or classes.

(b) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (A) of this Section 4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.

Section 5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein or in the Certificate of Incorporation, including any Certificate of Designations creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock, or as otherwise required by law.

 

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Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. Upon any liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, prior to any distribution made to the holders of shares of stock ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock, an aggregate amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to one hundred (100) times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to holders of shares of Common Stock plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends (the “Series A Liquidation Preference”). In the event, however, that there are not sufficient assets available to permit payment in full of the Series A Liquidation Preference and the liquidation preferences of all other series of preferred stock, if any, that rank on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock, then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders of such parity shares in proportion to their respective liquidation preferences. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the aggregate amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

Section 7. Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case the Corporation shall enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed into an amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to one hundred (100) times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

Section 8. Amendment. So long as any share of the Series A Preferred Stock is outstanding, neither the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation nor this Certificate of Designation shall be amended in any manner, including in a merger or consolidation, which would alter, change, or repeal the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class.

Section 9. Rank. The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank, with respect to the payment of dividends and upon liquidation, dissolution and winding up, junior to all series of Preferred Stock, unless the terms of any such series shall provide otherwise.

 

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Section 10. Fractional Shares. The Series A Preferred Stock may be issued in fractions of a share that shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such holder’s fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends, participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all other rights of holders of Series A Preferred Stock.

 

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Exhibit B.

[Form of Right Certificate]

 

Certificate No. R-       Rights

NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER THE EARLIER OF THE EXPIRATION DATE AND THE FINAL EXPIRATION DATE (EACH AS DEFINED IN THE TAX BENEFITS PRESERVATION PLAN). THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT $0.0001 PER RIGHT AND TO EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE TAX BENEFITS PRESERVATION PLAN.

RIGHT CERTIFICATE

SEACHANGE INTERNATIONAL, INC.

This certifies that • , or registered assigns, is the registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan, dated as of August 16, 2023 (the “Agreement”), between SeaChange International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a federally chartered trust company, as Rights Agent (the “Rights Agent”), to purchase from the Company at any time after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Agreement) and prior to the earlier of the Expiration Date and the Final Expiration Date (each as defined in the Agreement) at the office of the Rights Agent, or at the office of its successor as Rights Agent, one one-hundredth of a fully paid non-assessable share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Preferred Shares”), of the Company, at a purchase price of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (the “Purchase Price”), upon presentation and surrender of this Right Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase duly executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate (and the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share which may be purchased upon exercise hereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of August 15, 2023, based on the Preferred Shares as constituted at such date. As provided in the Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share which may be purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events.

This Right Certificate is subject to all of the terms, covenants and restrictions of the Agreement, which terms, covenants and restrictions are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof, and to which Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Right Certificates. Copies of the Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices of the Company.

This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, upon surrender at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, may be exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate number of Preferred Shares as the Rights evidenced by the Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase. If this Right Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Right Certificate or Right Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.

 

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Subject to the provisions of the Agreement, the Rights evidenced by this Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Company at a redemption price of $0.0001 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged in whole or in part for Preferred Shares or shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share.

The Company shall not be required to issue fractional Preferred Shares (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), but upon the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby, and a cash payment will be made in lieu thereof, as provided in the Agreement.

No holder of this Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred Shares or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the 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 Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Agreement.

This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.

WITNESS the signature of the proper officers of the Company.

 

Dated as of __________________.      
ATTEST:     SEACHANGE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
      By:    
      Name:  
      Title:  
       
Name:        
Title:        
Countersigned:      

COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

as Rights Agent

     
By          
  Authorized Signature      

 

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Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

(To be executed by the registered holder if such

holder desires to transfer the Right Certificate.)

FOR VALUE RECEIVED ___________ hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto ______________

 

 
(Please print name and address of transferee)

 

this Right Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint _______________ Attorney, to transfer the within Right Certificate on the books of the within-named Company, with full power of substitution.

 

Dated:        
      Signature
Signature Guaranteed:      

Signatures must be guaranteed by a participant in the Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program, the Stock Exchanges Medallion Program or the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Medallion Signature Program.

The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:

(1) this Right Certificate [    ] is [    ] is not Beneficially Owned by an Acquiring Person (or an Affiliate or Associate of any Acquiring Person) and [    ] is [    ] is not being sold, assigned or transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Agreement); and

(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it [    ] did [    ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof.

 

Dated:          
        Signature

 

 

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FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE

(To be executed by the registered holder if such holder

desires to exercise Rights represented by the Right Certificate.)

TO: SEACHANGE INTERNATIONAL, INC.

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise Rights represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the Preferred Shares (or such other securities of the Company or of any other Person that may be issuable upon the exercise of the Rights) issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that such Preferred Shares (or such other securities of the Company or of any other Person that may be issuable upon the exercise of the Rights) be issued in the name of:

 

                  
         
         
  (Please print name and address)      

Please insert social security or other tax identifying number

If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate, a new Right Certificate for the balance remaining of such Rights shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:

 

                  
         
         
  (Please print name and address)      

Please insert social security or other tax identifying number

 

                  

 

Dated:        
      Signature
     
Signature Guaranteed:      

Signatures must be guaranteed by a participant in the Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program, the Stock Exchanges Medallion Program or the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Medallion Signature Program.

 

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The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:

(1) this Right Certificate [    ] is [    ] is not Beneficially Owned by an Acquiring Person (or an Affiliate or Associate thereof) and [    ] is [    ] is not being sold, assigned or transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Agreement); and

(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it [    ] did [    ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.

 

Dated:        
      Signature
NOTICE      

The signature in the Form of Assignment or Form of Election to Purchase, as the case may be, must conform to the name as written upon the face of this Right Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.

In the event the certification set forth above in the Form of Assignment or the Form of Election to Purchase, as the case may be, is not properly completed, the Company and the Rights Agent will deem the beneficial owner of the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Agreement) and such Assignment or Election to Purchase will not be honored.

 

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Exhibit C.

SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE PREFERRED SHARES

On August 16, 2023, the Board of Directors of SeaChange International, Inc. (the “Company”) declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a “Right”) for each outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Shares”), outstanding on August 15, 2023 (the “Record Date”) to the stockholders of record on that date.

For those interested in the specific terms of the Rights, which are governed by the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan (the “Rights Agreement”), dated August 16, 2023, between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., the Rights Agent, the Company provides the following summary description. Please note, however, that this description is only a summary, and is not complete, and should be read together with the entire Rights Agreement, which has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 16, 2023. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the Company.

Background

The Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board of Directors”) has adopted this Rights Agreement to deter acquisitions of Common Shares that would potentially limit the Company’s ability to use its net operating loss carryforwards and certain other tax attributes, which are referred to herein collectively as “NOLs”, to reduce the Company’s potential future federal income tax obligations. The Company has experienced, and may continue to experience, substantial net operating losses, and for federal and state income tax purposes, the Company may “carry forward” NOLs in certain circumstances to offset current and future taxable income, which will reduce the Company’s federal and state income tax liability. As a result, these NOLs can be a valuable asset of the Company, which may inure to the benefit of the Company and its stockholders. However, if the Company experiences an “ownership change,” as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section 382”), the Company’s ability to use the NOLs could be substantially limited, and the timing of the usage of the NOLs could be substantially delayed, which could adversely affect the value of the Company’s NOLs. Generally, an ownership change occurs if the percentage of the Company’s stock owned by one or more “five percent stockholders” increases by more than fifty percentage points over the lowest percentage of stock owned by such stockholders at any time during the prior three-year period. The Rights Agreement has a 4.9% “trigger” threshold which is intended to act as a deterrent to any person acquiring 4.9% or more of the outstanding Common Shares without the approval of the Board of Directors. This would protect the Company’s NOLs because changes in ownership by persons owning less than 4.9% of the outstanding Common Shares are not included in the calculation of whether the Company has experienced an “ownership change” under Section 382. There is no guarantee, however, that the Rights Agreement will prevent the Company from experiencing an “ownership change” under Section 382.

 

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Rights; Exercise Period.

The Rights Agreement imposes a significant penalty upon any person or group which acquires 4.9% or more of the outstanding Common Shares (such event, a “Triggering Event”) without the approval of the Board of Directors as described in Section 11(a)(ii) of the Rights Agreement. Stockholders who own 4.9% or more of the outstanding Common Shares as of the close of business on August 16, 2023, will not constitute a Triggering Event so long as such stockholders do not change their ownership of Common Shares in a transaction or series of transactions to an amount equal to or greater than the greater of (i) 4.9% or (ii) the sum of (x) the lowest beneficial ownership of such person as a percentage of the outstanding Common Shares as of any date on or after August 16, 2023 plus (y) 4.9%. Upon a Triggering Event, each Right entitles the registered holder thereof to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth of a share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Shares”), of the Company, at a price of $25.00 per one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (the “Purchase Price”), subject to adjustment. Because of the nature of the Preferred Shares’ dividend, liquidation and voting rights, the value of the one one-hundredth interest in a Preferred Share purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the value of one Common Share. From and after the occurrence of a Triggering Event if the Rights evidenced by the Right Certificate are or were acquired or beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), such Rights shall become null and void, and any holder of such Rights shall thereafter have no right to exercise such Rights. However, Rights are not exercisable following the occurrence of a Triggering Event until such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable by the Company as set forth below.

Until the earlier to occur of (i) ten (10) business days following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an “Acquiring Person”) has acquired beneficial ownership of 4.9% or more of the outstanding Common Shares (or if already the beneficial owner of at least 4.9% of the outstanding Common Shares, by acquiring additional Common Shares in a transaction or series of transactions representing 4.9% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding) or (ii) ten (10) business days (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person) following the commencement of, or announcement of an intention to commence, a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in the beneficial ownership by a person or group of 4.9% or more of such outstanding Common Shares (the earlier of such dates being called the “Distribution Date”), the Rights will be evidenced, with respect to any of the Common Share certificates outstanding as of the Record Date and book entry accounts reflecting ownership of Common Shares outstanding as of the Record Date, by such Common Share certificate or book entry account position, as applicable. For these purposes, beneficial ownership is determined based on the number of Common Shares that a person is deemed to directly, indirectly or constructively own pursuant to Section 382, including any shares owned by any other person treated as one entity under applicable treasury regulations.

Each of the following persons will not be deemed to be an Acquiring Person, even if they have acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 4.9% or more of the outstanding Common Shares: (i) the Company, (ii) any subsidiary of the Company, (iii) any employee benefit plan or employee stock plan of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, or any person organized, appointed, established or holding outstanding Common Shares for or

 

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pursuant to the terms of any such plan; (iv) any person who would otherwise be an Acquiring Person upon the first public announcement by the Company of the adoption of the Rights Agreement, unless and until such person, or any Affiliate of such person, changes their beneficial ownership of Common Shares in a transaction or series of transactions to an amount equal to or greater than the greater of (1) 4.9% or (2) the sum of (x) the lowest beneficial ownership of such person as a percentage of the outstanding Common Shares as of any date on or after August 16, 2023, plus (y) 4.9% (other than as a result of an acquisition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of Common Shares); or (v) any person who as the result of an acquisition of Common Shares by the Company which, by reducing the number of Common Shares outstanding, increases the proportionate number of Common Shares beneficially owned by the person to 4.9% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding, or a stock dividend, rights dividend, stock split or similar transaction effected by the Company unless and until such person, or any Associate or Affiliate of such person, following the first public announcement by the Company of such share acquisition, acquires beneficial ownership of an additional 0.5% or more of the then-outstanding Common Shares (other than pursuant to a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, reclassification or similar transaction effected by the Company). If the Board of Directors determines in good faith that a person who would otherwise be an Acquiring Person, has become such inadvertently, and such person, within ten (10) business days of being requested by the Company to do so, certifies that such person became an Acquiring Person inadvertently or without knowledge of the terms of the Rights and who thereafter, within ten (10) business days following such certification, divests as promptly as practicable a sufficient number of Common Shares that such person would no longer be an Acquiring Person, then such person shall not be deemed to be an Acquiring Person for any purpose of the Rights Agreement; provided that, if such person requested to so certify or divest Common Shares fails to do so within ten (10) business days, such person shall be deemed to be an Acquiring Person. Additionally, any person that has become an Acquiring Person shall not be treated as an Acquiring Person for any purpose of the Rights Agreement if the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, determines that such person’s acquisition of beneficial ownership of Common Shares does not jeopardize or endanger the Company’s ability to utilize the NOLs. A person (other than any “direct public group” within the meaning of treasury regulations Section 1.382-2T(j)(2)(ii)) will be treated as the beneficial owner of 4.9% or more of the Common Shares if, in the determination of the Board of Directors, that person (individually, or together with other persons) would be treated as a “5-percent stockholder” for purposes of Section 382 (substituting “4.9” for “5” each time “five” or “5” is used in or for purposes of Section 382).

The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferred by, and only in connection with, the transfer of Common Shares. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), new Common Share certificates and book entry accounts reflecting ownership of Common Shares issued after the Record Date or upon transfer or new issuance of Common Shares will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Shares outstanding as of the Record Date or book entry accounts reflecting ownership of Common Shares outstanding as of the Record Date, even without such notation, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented by such certificate or book entry position, as applicable. As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights (“Right Certificates”) will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Shares as of the Close of Business on the Distribution Date and such separate Right Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.

 

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The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights will expire on the earliest of (i) the date on which all of the Rights are redeemed as described below, (ii) the date on which the Rights are exchanged as described below, (iii) the consummation of a reorganization transaction entered into by the Company resulting in the imposition of stock transfer restrictions that the Board of Directors determines, in its sole discretion, will provide protection for the NOLs similar to that provided by the Rights Agreement, (iv) the close of business on the effective date of the repeal of Section 382, or any other change, if the Board of Directors determines, in its sole discretion, that the Rights Agreement is no longer necessary or desirable for the preservation of the NOLs, (v) the date on which the Board of Directors otherwise determines, in its sole discretion, that the Rights Agreement is no longer necessary to preserve the NOLs, (vi) the beginning of a taxable year of the Company to which the Board of Directors determines, in its sole discretion, that none of the NOLs may be carried forward, (viii) the close of business on August 16, 2024 (the “Final Expiration Date”).

Purchase Price; Adjustments.

The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred Shares or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Preferred Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Shares of certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares at a price, or securities convertible into Preferred Shares with a conversion price, less than the then current market price of the Preferred Shares or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Preferred Shares of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular quarterly cash dividends paid out of earnings or retained earnings or dividends payable in Preferred Shares) 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.

The number of outstanding Rights and the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share issuable upon exercise of each Right are also subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split of the Common Shares or a stock dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of the Common Shares occurring, in any such case, prior to the Distribution Date. No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depository receipts) and in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the Preferred Shares on the last trading day prior to the date of exercise. 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.

 

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In the event that any person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person, all holders of Rights except such person or group of affiliated or associated persons and their transferees may, upon exercise of a Right, purchase for the Purchase Price Common Shares with a market value of two times the Purchase Price, based on the market price of the Common Shares on the date such person or group of affiliated or associated persons became an Acquiring Person. If the Company does not have sufficient Common Shares to satisfy such obligation to issue Common Shares, the Company shall take all actions necessary to authorize additional Common Shares for issuance as soon as possible upon exercise of the Rights. In the event the Company shall, after good faith effort, be unable to take all such actions as may be necessary to authorize such additional Common Shares, the Company shall deliver upon payment of the exercise price of a Right a number of Common Shares to the extent available and then units or other equity securities of the Company other than Common Shares, or cash, a reduction in the Purchase Price, debt securities of the Company, other assets or a combination of the foregoing in proportions determined by the Company, so that the aggregate value received is equal to twice the Purchase Price.

Exchange; Redemption; Amendment.

At any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to the acquisition by any person or group of a majority of the outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group which have become null and void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per Right (subject to adjustment).

At any time prior to ten (10) business days after the time any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, the Board of Directors may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.0001 per Right (the “Redemption Price”). The redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish. Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.

The terms of the Rights may be amended by the Board of Directors without the consent of the holders of the Rights, except that from and after such time as any person becomes an Acquiring Person no such amendment may adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Rights (other than the Acquiring Person and its Affiliates and Associates).

 

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