With respect to certificates representing Common Shares outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced by such certificates for Common Shares registered in the names of the holders thereof, and not by separate Right Certificates (as defined below). With respect to book entry accounts reflecting ownership of Common Shares outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced by the balances indicated in the book entry account system of the transfer agent for the Common Shares. Prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date, the Expiration Date or the Final Expiration Date, 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.
Acquiring Persons. Any stockholder who owns 4.9% or more of the outstanding Common Shares as of the time of the first public announcement of the Rights Agreement on August 16, 2023, will not constitute an Acquiring Person unless such stockholder changes its beneficial 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 stockholder as a percentage of the outstanding Common Shares as of any date on or after August 16, 2023, plus (y) 4.9%.
In addition to the foregoing exception, 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 pursuant to the terms of any such plan or (iv) 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 determines in good faith that a person who would otherwise be an Acquiring Person, has become such inadvertently, and such person, within 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 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 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, 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, 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).
Expiration. 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 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 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 otherwise determines, in its sole discretion, that the Rights Agreement is no longer necessary to preserve the NOLs and (vi) the first day of a taxable year of the Company to which the Board determines, in its sole discretion, that none of the NOLs may be carried forward (the “Expiration Date”); provided that the Rights will expire on the close of business on the first anniversary of the date of the Rights Agreement (the “Final Expiration Date”), if such anniversary occurs prior to any date that would constitute the “Expiration Date.”
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.