UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
 
 
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):
 
June 29, 2016
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC.
__________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 
 
Delaware
1-31923
86-0226984
_____________________
(State or other jurisdiction
_____________
(Commission
______________
(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)
File Number)
Identification No.)
  
 
 
16220 North Scottsdale Road, Suite 100, Scottsdale, Arizona
 
85254
_________________________________
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
___________
(Zip Code)
 
 
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
 
623-445-9500
Not Applicable
______________________________________________

Former name or former address, if changed since last report
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
[  ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[  ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))







Item 1.01      Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
The information included in Item 3.03 of this Current Report on Form 8‑K is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.
Item 3.03      Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.
On June 29, 2016, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (the “Company”) declared a dividend of one preferred stock purchase right (a “Right”) for each outstanding share of common stock of $0.0001 par value per share of the Company (the “Common Stock”). The dividend is payable to holders of record as of the close of business on July 11, 2016. The specific terms of the Rights are contained in the Rights Agreement, dated as of June 29, 2016 (the “Rights Agreement”), by and between the Company and Computershare Inc., as Rights Agent.
The Board authorized the adoption of the Rights Agreement, which expires on June 28, 2017, to protect against any potential future use of coercive or abusive takeover techniques and to help ensure that the Company’s stockholders are not deprived of the opportunity to realize the full and fair value of their investment.  In general terms, and subject to certain exceptions, the Rights Agreement restricts any person or group from acquiring beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Stock, or, in the case of any person or group that owns 15% or more of the outstanding Common Stock on the date of announcement of the Company’s entry into the Rights Agreement, an additional 0.25% of the shares of Common Stock.
Following is a summary of the terms of the Rights Agreement. The following summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Rights Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 4.1 hereto.
Rights Certificates and Distribution Date.   Initially, the Rights will be evidenced by, and trade with, the Common Stock and will not be exercisable or transferable apart from, the Common Stock. Rights will accompany any new shares of Common Stock the Company issues after the Record Date until the Distribution Date described below. Subject to certain exceptions, Rights would separate from the Common Stock and become exercisable apart from the Common Stock only following the earlier of (i) the close of business on the tenth (10th) business day after public announcement that a person has become an “Acquiring Person” or (ii) the close of business on the tenth (10th) business day (or such later date as the Board shall determine) after a third party makes a tender offer which, if consummated, would result in such third party becoming an Acquiring Person (a “Distribution Date”). After a Distribution Date, the Rights Agent would send certificates representing Rights to stockholders and the Rights would trade independent of the Common Stock. Except as otherwise determined by the Board and in connection with certain employee benefit plan issuances, only shares of Common Stock issued prior to a Distribution Date will be issued with Rights.
Exercise of Rights.   On or after the Distribution Date, each Right would initially entitle the holder to purchase one one-thousandth of a share of a newly authorized series of participating preferred stock of the Company designated as Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock, of $0.0001 par value per share (the “Preferred Stock”), for a purchase price of $ 9.00 (subject to adjustment) (the “Exercise Price”).  Under certain circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement, the Company may suspend the exercisability of the Rights.
Definition of Acquiring Person.   An “Acquiring Person” is a person or group that, together with affiliates and associates of such person or group or persons acting in concert with such person or group, acquires beneficial ownership of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the Common Stock, other than:  (i) the Company, its subsidiaries and their respective employee benefit plans; (ii) any stockholder who, as of the time of the first public announcement of adoption of the Rights Agreement, beneficially owns fifteen percent (15%) or more of the Common Stock (unless and until such person thereafter acquires an additional 0.25% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or such person reduces its ownership below and then later exceeds the fifteen percent (15%) threshold); (iii) a person who becomes an Acquiring Person solely as a result of the Company repurchasing shares of Common Stock (unless and until such person acquires additional shares representing 0.25% or more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock); and (iv) certain stockholders that inadvertently buy shares in excess of fifteen percent (15%) of the Common Stock and who promptly reduce the percentage of shares owned below fifteen percent (15%).  
Definition of Beneficial Ownership.   For purposes of the Rights Agreement, beneficial ownership is defined to include (among other things) beneficial ownership as determined under Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as well as ownership of options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation rights, swap agreements or other securities, contract rights or derivative positions, whether or not presently exercisable. A person's beneficially owned shares include shares beneficially owned by the person's affiliates and associates and persons with whom the person is acting in concert. For purposes of calculating the beneficial ownership of any person under the Rights Agreement, neither the numerator or denominator of such calculation shall include any shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value per share of the Company (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) or the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of any Series A Preferred Stock that is then subject





to the Investor Voting Cap (as such term is defined in the Certificate of Designations for the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock dated June 24, 2016, as such may be amended from time to time (“Series A Certificate of Designations’). For purposes of determining whether any person is exempt from the definition of Acquiring Person, a beneficial owner of Series A Preferred Stock at the time of determination shall be deemed to own all shares of Common Stock into which such person’s Series A Preferred Stock may be converted (notwithstanding the Investor Voting Cap or the Conversion Cap, as defined in the Series A Certificate of Designations) and such person shall not become an Acquiring Person by virtue of either (i) the removal of Investor Voting Cap or the Conversion Cap in accordance with the provisions of the Series A Certificate of Designations; or (ii) conversion of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock following removal of the Conversion Cap in accordance with the Series A Certificate of Designations.
“Flip-in” Feature.   If any person or group of affiliated or associated persons or group of persons acting in concert with each other becomes an Acquiring Person, then each Right (other than Rights owned by an Acquiring Person, its affiliates and associates, persons with whom it is acting in concert or certain transferees, which will become void) will entitle the holder to purchase, at the then current exercise price, Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances, a combination of Common Stock, other securities, cash or other property) having a value of twice the exercise price of the Right, in effect enabling a purchase at half-price. However, Rights are not exercisable following the occurrence of the foregoing event until such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable by the Company as described below.
“Flip-over” Feature. If, at any time after a person or group of affiliated or associated persons or group of persons acting in concert with each other becomes an Acquiring Person, the Company engages in a merger or other business combination transaction or series of related transactions in which the Common Stock is changed or exchanged or fifty percent (50%) or more of its assets, cash flow or earning power is sold or transferred, then each Right (not previously voided by the occurrence of a Flip-in Event) will entitle the holder to purchase, at the Right’s then current exercise price, common stock of such Acquiring Person having a value of twice the Right’s then current exercise price, in effect enabling a purchase at half-price.
Exchange Option. At any time after a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to the acquisition by such person or group of fifty percent (50%) or more of the then outstanding Common Stock, the Board may, in lieu of allowing Rights to be exercised, exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by an Acquiring Person, its affiliates, associates, persons with whom it is acting in concert or certain transferees, which will become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock, or one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (or of a share of a class or series of the Company's preferred stock having equivalent rights, preferences and privileges), per Right, in each case as adjusted to reflect stock splits or similar transactions.
Redemption.   The Board may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price (subject to adjustment) of $0.001 per Right at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the tenth (10 th ) business day following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons or persons acting in concert has become an Acquiring Person or (ii) the final expiration of the Rights.
Power to Amend.   Prior to a Distribution Date, the Company may amend or supplement the Rights Agreement in any respect without the approval of any of its stockholders.  From and after a Distribution Date, the Board may amend or supplement the Rights Agreement, without the approval of any Rights holders, in order to (i) cure any ambiguity, (ii) correct or supplement any provision which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions, (iii) shorten or lengthen any time period ( e.g. , the redemption period prior to the Rights becoming non-redeemable) or (iv) change or supplement the provisions in any manner which the Company may deem necessary or desirable and which does not adversely affect the interests of the holders of certificates representing valid Rights.  The Rights Agreement, however, may not be amended at such time as the Rights are not redeemable (other than certain limited technical amendments).
Expiration. The Rights will expire at 5:00 P.M., New York, New York time, on June 28, 2017, unless redeemed or exchanged earlier or unless the Board extends the expiration date.
Equitable Adjustments. The Exercise Price payable, and the number of units of Preferred Stock 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 dividend on the Preferred Stock payable in shares of Preferred Stock, a subdivision or split of outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, a combination or consolidation of Preferred Stock into a smaller number of shares through a reverse stock split or otherwise, or reclassification of the Preferred Stock, (ii) if holders of the Preferred Stock are granted certain rights, options or warrants to subscribe for Preferred Stock or convertible securities at less than the current market price of the Preferred Stock, or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Preferred Stock of cash (excluding regular quarterly cash dividends), assets, evidences of indebtedness or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).





Anti-Takeover Effects . The Rights may have certain anti-takeover effects. The Rights may cause substantial dilution to any person or group that attempts to acquire the Company without the approval of the Board of Directors. As a result, the overall effect of the Rights may be to render more difficult or discourage a merger, tender offer or other business combination involving the Company that is not supported by the Board.
No Rights as a Stockholder; Other Matters. Until a Right is exercised, the holder of Rights, as such, is not entitled to any separate rights as a stockholder of the Company (such as voting or dividend rights).  Although the distribution of the Rights will not be taxable to stockholders or to the Company, stockholders may, depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become exercisable for Common Stock (or other consideration) or for common stock of an acquiring company or in the event of the redemption of the Rights as set forth above.
A copy of the press release regarding the Rights Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On June 29, 2016, the Board of Directors of the Company, upon the designation by the holders of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to section 5(c) of the Series A Certificate of Designations, and upon deeming such appointment to be in the best interests of the Company, elected Mr. Christopher S. Shackelton, a Managing Partner at Coliseum Capital Management, LLC ("Coliseum"), to the Board effective immediately. The Board also amended its Bylaws to increase the number of directors on the Board from ten (10) to eleven (11) in connection with Mr. Shackelton’s election. The Series A Certificate of Designations and accompanying Securities Purchase Agreement for the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock were included as exhibits to the current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 24, 2016.
Mr. Shackelton is a Managing Partner at Coliseum, an investment firm that he co-founded in January 2006. In addition, he has served as a director of Providence Service Corp. since July 2012 and was appointed Chairman of the Board in November 2012. He also has been an Independent Director of LHC Group, Inc., since November 2012 as well as BioScrip, Inc., since March 2015. Previously, Mr. Shackelton was Chairman of Rural/Metro Corp, from December 2010 to June 2011 and served on the board Advanced Emissions Solutions, Inc. from July 2014 to June 2016 and of Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Inc, from February 2009 through March 2010. Prior to these positions, Mr. Shackelton worked at Watershed Asset Management and Morgan Stanley & Co. He received a bachelor's degree in economics from Yale University.
As of the date of this current report on Form 8-K, Mr. Shackelton has not been appointed to serve on any of the committees of the Board.
As Managing Partner and a co-founder of Coliseum, Mr. Shackelton has an indirect interest in the transaction whereby an affiliate of Coliseum purchased 700,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock of the Company on June 24, 2016 for a total purchase price of $70,000,000, which transaction was initially disclosed in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 24, 2016.
Mr. Shackelton will be entitled to receive compensation for his service on the Board in accordance with the Company’s standard compensatory, indemnification and other arrangements consistent with other non-employee directors. Those arrangements are described in detail in the Company’s definitive proxy statement dated January 15, 2016 under the heading “Compensation of Non-Management Directors”.
Item 5.03      Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
In connection with the adoption of the Rights Agreement, on June 29, 2016, the Board approved a Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the Company (the “Series E Certificate of Designation”) setting forth the rights, powers and preferences of the Preferred Stock. The Company filed the Series E Certificate of Designation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 30, 2016. A copy of the Series E Certificate of Designation is attached as Exhibit 3.1 hereto and is incorporated by reference herein, and the information set forth in Item 3.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated into this Item 5.03 by reference.
On June 29, 2016, the Board approved an amendment to Section 2.1 of the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”) which was effective immediately upon approval. The amendment increased the authorized number of directors of the Company under the Bylaws from ten (10) to eleven (11) directors.





The preceding is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Company’s Bylaws, which are attached hereto as Exhibit 3.2 and are incorporated herein by this reference.
Item 9.01      Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)
Exhibit 3.1
Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock
 
Exhibit 3.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws of Universal Technical Institute, Inc. dated June 29, 2016
 
Exhibit 3.3
Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Form 8-K filed on June 24, 2016)
 
Exhibit 4.1
Rights Agreement, dated as of June 29, 2016, by and between Universal Technical Institute, Inc. and Computershare Inc., as Rights Agent
 
Exhibit 99.1
Press Release of Universal Technical Institute, Inc. dated June 30, 2016



SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Universal Technical Institute, Inc.
  
 
 
 
 
June 30, 2016
 
By:
 
/s/ Chad A. Freed
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Name: Chad A. Freed
 
 
 
 
Title: General Counsel, Executive Vice President of Business Development

Exhibit Index

 
 
 
Exhibit No.
 
Description
3.1
 
Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock
3.2
 
Amended and Restated Bylaws of Universal Technical Institute, Inc. dated June 29, 2016

3.3
 
Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Form 8-K filed on June 24, 2016)

4.1
 
Rights Agreement, dated as of June 29, 2016 by and between Universal Technical Institute, Inc. and Computershare Inc., as Rights Agent
99.1
 
Press Release of Universal Technical Institute, Inc., dated June 30, 2016







Exhibit 3.1
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION, PREFERENCES AND
RIGHTS OF SERIES E JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
of
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC.
Pursuant to Section 151 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
I, Kimberly J. McWaters, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Technical Institute, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (herein referred to as the “Company”), in accordance with the provisions of Section 103 thereof, DO HEREBY CERTIFY:
That pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors by the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of the Company (as may be amended from time to time, the “Certificate of Incorporation”), the said Board of Directors on June 29, 2016, adopted the following resolution creating a series of 100,000 shares of Preferred Stock designated as Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock:
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of Directors of the Company in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, a series of Preferred Stock of the Company be and it hereby is created, and that the designation and amount thereof and the voting powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of the shares of such series, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof are as follows:
Section 1.     Designation and Amount . The shares of such series shall be designated as “Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock” and the number of shares constituting such series shall be 100,000. Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors; provided, however , that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock to a number less than the number of shares then outstanding plus the number of shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon the exercise of any options, rights or warrants issuable upon conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the Company convertible into Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
Section 2.     Dividends and Distributions .
(A)     Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of any shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of common stock of the Company with $0.0001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), and of any other junior stock, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose, 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 E Junior Participating Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $1.00 or (b) subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, one thousand (1,000) times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and one thousand (1,000) 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 E Junior Participating Preferred Stock. In the event the Company shall at any time after June 29, 2016 (the “Rights Dividend Declaration Date”), (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (b) of 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 Company shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock as provided in Paragraph (A) above immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock); provided that, in the event no dividend or distribution shall have been declared on the Common Stock during the period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $1.00 per share on the Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.
(C)     Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock, 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 E Junior Participating 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 E Junior Participating 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 E Junior Participating Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be no more than thirty (30) days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
Section 3.     Voting Rights . The holders of shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:
(A)     Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each share of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one thousand (1,000) votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Company. In the event the Company shall at any time after the Rights Dividend Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of Series E Junior Participating 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 herein or by law, the holders of shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Company.
(C)     (i) If at any time dividends on any Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall be in arrears in an amount equal to six (6) quarterly dividends thereon, the occurrence of such contingency shall mark the beginning of a period (herein called a “default period”) that shall extend until such time when all accrued and unpaid dividends for all previous quarterly dividend periods and for the current quarterly dividend period on all shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock then outstanding shall have been declared and paid or set apart for payment. During each default period, all holders of Preferred Stock (including holders of the Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock) with dividends in arrears in an amount equal to six (6) quarterly dividends (or, in the case of any other series of Preferred Stock outstanding, dividends in arrears as set forth in the Certificate of Designation for that series) thereon, voting as a class, irrespective of series, shall have the right to elect two (2) directors.
(ii) During any default period, such voting right of the holders of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock may be exercised initially at a special meeting called pursuant to subparagraph (iii) of this Section 3(C) or at any annual meeting of stockholders, and thereafter at annual meetings of stockholders, provided that neither such voting right nor the right of the holders of any other series of Preferred Stock, if any, to increase, in certain cases, the authorized number of directors shall be exercised unless the holders of at least ten percent (10%) in number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding shall be present in person or by proxy. The absence of a quorum of the holders of Common Stock shall not affect the exercise by the holders of Preferred Stock of such voting right. At any meeting at which the holders of Preferred Stock shall exercise such voting right initially during an existing default period, they shall have the right, voting as a class, to elect directors to fill such vacancies, if any, in the Board of Directors as may then exist up to two (2) directors or, if such right is exercised at an annual meeting, to elect





two (2) directors. If the number which may be so elected at any special meeting does not amount to the required number, the holders of the Preferred Stock shall have the right to make such increase in the number of directors as shall be necessary to permit the election by them of the required number. After the holders of the Preferred Stock shall have exercised their right to elect directors in any default period and during the continuance of such period, the number of directors shall not be increased or decreased except by vote of the holders of Preferred Stock as herein provided or pursuant to the rights of any equity securities ranking senior to or pari passu with the Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
(iii) Unless the holders of Preferred Stock shall, during an existing default period, have previously exercised their right to elect directors, the Board of Directors may order, or any stockholder or stockholders owning in the aggregate not less than ten percent (10%) of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding, irrespective of series, may request, the calling of a special meeting of the holders of Preferred Stock, which meeting shall thereupon be called by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, a Senior Vice-President, a Vice-President or the Secretary of the Company. Notice of such meeting and of any annual meeting at which holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote pursuant to this Paragraph (C)(iii) shall be given to each holder of record of Preferred Stock by mailing a copy of such notice to such holder at such holder’s last address as the same appears on the books of the Company. Such meeting shall be called for a time not earlier than twenty (20) days and not later than sixty (60) days after such order or request or in default of the calling of such meeting within sixty (60) days after such order or request, such meeting may be called on similar notice by any stockholder or stockholders owning in the aggregate not less than ten percent (10%) of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Paragraph (C)(iii), no such special meeting shall be called during the period within sixty (60) days immediately preceding the date fixed for the next annual meeting of the stockholders.
(iv) In any default period, the holders of Common Stock, and other classes of stock of the Company if applicable, shall continue to be entitled to elect the whole number of directors until the holders of Preferred Stock shall have exercised their right to elect two (2) directors voting as a class, after the exercise of which right (x) the directors so elected by the holders of Preferred Stock shall continue in office until their successors shall have been elected by such holders or until the expiration of the default period, and (y) any vacancy in the Board of Directors may (except as provided in Paragraph (C)(ii) of this Section 3) be filled by vote of a majority of the remaining directors theretofore elected by the holders of the class of stock which elected the director whose office shall have become vacant. References in this Paragraph (C) to directors elected by the holders of a particular class of stock shall include directors elected by such directors to fill vacancies as provided in clause (y) of the foregoing sentence.
(v) Immediately upon the expiration of a default period, (x) the right of the holders of Preferred Stock as a class to elect directors shall cease, (y) the term of any directors elected by the holders of Preferred Stock as a class shall terminate, and (z) the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in the Certificate of Incorporation or the by-laws of the Company, as amended, irrespective of any increase made pursuant to the provisions of Paragraph (C)(ii) of this Section 3 (such number being subject, however, to change thereafter in any manner provided by law or in the Certificate of Incorporation or the by-laws of the Company, as amended). Any vacancies in the Board of Directors effected by the provisions of clauses (y) and (z) in the preceding sentence may be filled by a majority of the remaining directors.
(D)    Except as set forth herein, holders of Series E Junior Participating 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.
Section 4.     Certain Restrictions .
(A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions payable on the Series E Junior Participating 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 E Junior Participating Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Company shall not:
(i) declare or pay dividends on, make any other distributions on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends on 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 E Junior Participating Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series E Junior Participating 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 on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock, provided that the Company may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such parity stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Company ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock; or
(iv) purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on a parity with the Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of such shares upon such terms as the Board of Directors, 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 Company shall not permit any subsidiary of the Company to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the Company unless the Company 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 E Junior Participating Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and cancelled 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 to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein.
Section 6.      Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up . (A) Upon any liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution or winding up of the Company, no distribution shall be made to the holders of shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall have received an amount equal to $1,000 per share of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment (the “Series E Liquidation Preference”). Following the payment of the full amount of the Series E Liquidation Preference, no additional distributions shall be made to the holders of shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall have received an amount per share (the “Common Adjustment”) equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the Series E Liquidation Preference by (ii) one thousand (1,000) (as appropriately adjusted as set forth in subparagraph (C) below to reflect such events as stock splits, stock dividends and recapitalizations with respect to the Common Stock) (such number in clause (ii), the “Adjustment Number”). Following the payment of the full amount of the Series E Liquidation Preference and the Common Adjustment in respect of all outstanding shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock and Common Stock, respectively, holders of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock and holders of shares of Common Stock shall receive their ratable and proportionate share of the remaining assets to be distributed in the ratio of the Adjustment Number to 1 with respect to such Preferred Stock and Common Stock, on a per share basis, respectively.
(B)     In the event, however, that there are not sufficient assets available to permit payment in full of the Series E Liquidation Preference and the liquidation preferences of all other series of preferred stock, if any, which rank on a parity with the Series E Junior Participating 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, however, that there are not sufficient assets available to permit payment in full of the Common Adjustment, then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders of Common Stock.
(C)     In the event the Company shall at any time after the Rights Dividend Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the Adjustment Number in effect immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such Adjustment 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.
Section 7.      Consolidation, Merger, etc . In case the Company 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 the shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed in an amount per share (subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal to one thousand (1,000) 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 Company shall at any time after the Rights Dividend Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of shares of Series E Junior Participating 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.      No Redemption . The shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable.
Section 9.      Ranking . The Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall rank junior to all other series of the Company’s Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, unless the terms of any such series shall provide otherwise.
Section 10.     Amendment . At any time when any shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock are outstanding, neither the Certificate of Incorporation nor this Certificate of Designation shall be amended in any manner that would materially alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the outstanding shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class.
Section 11.     Fractional Shares . Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock may be issued in fractions of a share which 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 E Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Universal Technical Institute, Inc. has caused this Certificate of Designation to be executed in its corporate name this 30 th day of June, 2016.
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC.
By: ________________________________
Name: Kimberly J. McWaters
Title: Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer






Exhibit 3.2
















AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF

UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC.
a Delaware corporation

(as amended on June 29, 2016)
































TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
 
1. MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS ...........................................................................         1
1.1 Annual Meeting ..........................................................................................................         1
1.2 Special Meetings ........................................................................................................         1
1.3 Place and Time of Meetings .......................................................................................         1
1.4 Notice of Meeting; Waiver of Notice .........................................................................         1
1.5 Quorum; Voting; Validation of Meeting ....................................................................         2
1.6 Adjourned Meeting; Notice ........................................................................................         3
1.7 Voting .........................................................................................................................         4
1.8 Record Date for Stockholder Notice ..........................................................................         5
1.9 Proxies ........................................................................................................................         5
1.10 List of Stockholders ....................................................................................................         6
1.11 Notice of Stockholder Nominee .................................................................................         6
1.12 Stockholder Proposals ................................................................................................         7
1.13 Public Disclosure; Conduct of Nominations and Proposals by Stockholders ..........         9
1.14 Meeting Required .......................................................................................................         9
1.15 Organization ...............................................................................................................         9
1.16 Inspectors of Election ...............................................................................................         10
2. BOARD OF DIRECTORS ...........................................................................................         11
2.1 Number, Qualification, Election and Term of Directors ..........................................         11
2.2 Quorum and Manner of Acting ................................................................................         11
2.3 Place of Meetings .....................................................................................................         12
2.4 Annual and Regular Meetings ..................................................................................         12
2.5 Special Meetings ......................................................................................................         12
2.6 Notice of Meetings; Waiver of Notice .....................................................................         12
2.7 Board or Committee Action Without a Meeting ......................................................         13
2.8 Participation in Board or Committee Meetings by Conference Telephone ..............         13
2.9 Resignation and Removal of Directors .....................................................................         13
2.10 Vacancies ..................................................................................................................         14
2.11 Compensation ...........................................................................................................         14
2.12 Notice to Members of the Board of Directors ..........................................................         14
2.13 Organization .............................................................................................................         15
3. COMMITTEES ...............................................................................................................        15
3.1 Audit Committee ......................................................................................................         15
3.2 Compensation Committee ........................................................................................         15
3.3 Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee ................................................         15
3.4 Other Committees .....................................................................................................         15
3.5 Meetings and Action of Committees ........................................................................         16
3.6 Election Pursuant to Section 141(c)(2) .....................................................................         16










TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
1.
OFFICERS                                          16
4.1 Number; Security                                  16
4.2 Election; Term of Office; Salaries                     17
4.3 Subordinate Officers                                  17
4.4 Resignation and Removal of Officers     17
4.5 Vacancies                                      17
4.6      Chairman of the Board                          17
4.7      Vice Chairman of the Board............................................................................. 17
4.8 Chief Executive Officer                      18
4.9      President........................................................................................................... 18
4.10
Vice President................................................................................................18
4.11      Secretary                                      18
4.12      Treasurer                                       19
4.13          Chief Financial Officer                          19
5.      BUSINESS COMBINATION .......................................................................................20
5.1      Vote Required For Certain Business Combinations ..........................................20
5.2 Business Combinations Requiring Only Majority Stockholder Approval      20
5.3 Definitions                                      22
5.4      Fiduciary Obligations.........................................................................................25
5.5      Deliberation By Directors ..................................................................................25
5.6      Amendment                                      26
6.    SHARES                                      26
6.1 Shares of the Corporation                              26
6.2      Special Designation on Certificates ...................................................................26
6.3 Lost, Stolen, Destroyed and Mutilated Certificates                  27
6.4 Stock Records                                  27
6.5 Transfers                                      27
6.6 Regulations Governing Issuance and Transfers of Shares              27
6.7      Transfer Agents and Registrars......................................................................... 27
6.8      Record Date for Purposes Other Than Notice and Voting ................................ 28
6.9      Stock Repurchases                                   28
7. ELECTION OF CERTAIN STATE LAWS      29
7.1 Election Regarding Certain State Anti-Takeover Laws      29
8. MISCELLANEOUS                              29
8.1 Seal                                           29
8.2 Fiscal Year                                      29
8.3 Voting of Shares in Other Corporations                      29
8.4 Checks; Drafts; Evidences of Indebtedness                      29
8.5 Corporate Contracts and Instruments; How Executed.........................................30





                






TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
                 Page
8.6 Construction; Definitions .......................................................................................... 30
8.7 Provisions Additional to Provisions of Law ............................................................. 30
8.8 Provisions Contrary to Provisions of Law ................................................................ 30
8.9 Amendments ............................................................................................................. 30
8.10 Indemnification and Insurance ................................................................................. 30













































    








AMENDED AND RESTATED
BYLAWS
OF
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC.

(as amended on December 13, 2011)

1.
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS.

1.1     Annual Meeting . The annual meeting of stockholders of the corporation (the “Corporation”) shall be held on such date and at such time fixed from time to time by the board of directors (the “Board”). The business to be transacted at the meeting shall be the election of directors and any other proper business as may be brought before the meeting. Any previously scheduled annual meeting of the stockholders may be postponed by resolution of the Board upon public notice given on or prior to the date previously scheduled for such annual meeting of stockholders.

1.2      Special Meetings . Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock under the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended or restated, of the Corporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), special meetings of the stockholders may be called by (i) the Chairman of the Board, if there be one, (ii) a committee that is duly designated by the Board and shall be called by the Secretary by written request, or (iii) by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board. Only business related to the purposes set forth in the notice of the meeting may be transacted at a special meeting.

1.3     Place and Time of Meetings . Meetings of the stockholders may be held in or outside Delaware at the place and time specified by the Board; provided that the Board may, in its sole discretion, determine that the meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as authorized by Section 211(a)(2) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware General Corporation Law”).

1.4     Notice of Meeting; Waiver of Notice .

(a) Written or printed notice of each meeting of stockholders shall be given by or at the direction of the Secretary or the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation to each stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting, except that (a) it shall not be necessary to give notice to any stockholder who properly waives notice before or after the meeting, whether in writing or by electronic transmission or otherwise, and (b) no notice of an adjourned meeting need be given except when required under Section 1.6 of these Bylaws or by law. Each notice of a meeting shall be given, personally or by mail or, as provided below, by means of electronic transmission, not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the meeting and shall state the time and place of the meeting, or if held by remote communications, the means of remote communication by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, and unless it is the annual meeting, shall state at whose direction or request the meeting is called and the purposes for which it is called. The attendance of any stockholder at a meeting, without protesting at the beginning of the meeting that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened, shall constitute a waiver of notice by him or her. Any previously scheduled meeting of stockholders may be postponed, and (unless the Certificate of Incorporation otherwise provides) any special meeting of stockholders may be canceled, by resolution of the Board upon public disclosure (as defined in Section 1.13(a)) given on or prior to the date previously scheduled for such meeting of stockholders.

(b) Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to a stockholder may be given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the Corporation. Any such consent shall be deemed revoked (1) if the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two consecutive notices given by the Corporation in accordance with such consent





and (2) such inability becomes known to the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation or to the transfer agent, or other person responsible for the giving of notice; provided, however, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action. For purposes of these Bylaws, “electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.

(c) Notice shall be deemed given, if mailed, when deposited in the United States mail with postage prepaid, if addressed to a stockholder at his or her address on the Corporation’s records. Notice given by electronic transmission shall be deemed given: (1) if by facsimile, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (2) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (3) if by posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (A) such posting and (B) the giving of such separate notice; and (4) by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder.

(d) An affidavit of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or of the transfer agent or other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given, whether by a form of electronic transmission or otherwise, shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

1.5     Quorum; Voting; Validation of Meeting .

(e) The holders of a majority in voting power of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the transaction of business except as otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation. If, however, such quorum is not present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, then either (i) the person presiding over the meeting or (ii) the stockholders by the vote of the holders of a majority of the stock, present in person or represented by proxy shall have power to adjourn the meeting in accordance with Section 1.6 of these Bylaws.

(f) Subject to the rights of the holders of preferred stock to elect directors under specified circumstances pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, when a quorum is
present at any meeting, a nominee for director shall be elected to the Board of Directors if the votes cast for such nominee’s election exceed the votes cast against such nominee’s election; provided, however, that directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at any meeting of stockholders for which (i) the Secretary of the Corporation receives a notice that a stockholder has nominated a person for election to the Board of Directors in compliance with the advance notice requirements for stockholder nominees for director set forth in Section 1.11 of these Bylaws and (ii) such nomination has not been withdrawn by such stockholder on or before the tenth day before the Corporation first mails its notice of meeting for such meeting to the stockholders (such election being a “Contested Election”). In a Contested Election, stockholders will be given the choice to cast “for” or “withhold” votes for the election of directors and shall not have the ability to cast any other vote with respect to such election of directors. On all other matters, the vote of the holders of a majority of the stock having voting power on such matter present in person or represented by proxy shall decide any question brought before such meetings, unless the question is one upon which, by express provision of the laws of the State of Delaware or of the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a vote of a greater number or voting by classes is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of the question.

(g) The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors shall establish procedures under which any director who is not elected by the majority of the votes cast with respect to an election that is not a Contested Election shall offer to tender his or her resignation to the Board of Directors.

(h) If a quorum is initially present, the stockholders may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum, if any action taken is approved by a majority of the stockholders initially constituting the quorum.






(i) The transactions of any meeting of stockholders, either annual or special, however called and noticed, and wherever held, shall be as valid as though they had been taken at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if a quorum is present either in person or by proxy.

1.6     Adjourned Meeting; Notice .

(j) Any stockholders’ meeting, annual or special, whether or not a quorum is present, may be adjourned from time to time by the vote of the majority of the voting power of the shares represented at that meeting, either in person or by proxy. In the absence of a quorum, no other business may be transacted at that meeting except as provided in Section 1.5 of these Bylaws.

(k) When any meeting of stockholders, either annual or special, is adjourned to another time or place or means of remote communication, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting, are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. However, if a new record date for the adjourned meeting is fixed or if the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days from the date set for the original meeting, then notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given. Notice of any such adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.4 of these Bylaws. At any adjourned meeting the Corporation may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting.

1.7     Voting .

(l) The stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.8 of these Bylaws, subject to the provisions of Sections 217 and 218 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (relating to voting rights of fiduciaries, pledgors and joint owners, and to voting trusts and other voting agreements).

(m) Except as may be otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, by these Bylaws or as required by law, each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of capital stock held by such stockholder which has voting power upon the matter in question.

(n) Any stockholder entitled to vote on any matter may vote part of the shares in favor of the proposal and refrain from voting the remaining shares or, except when the matter is the election of directors, may vote the remaining shares against the proposal; but if the stockholder fails to specify the number of shares which the stockholder is voting affirmatively or otherwise indicates how the number of shares to be voted affirmatively is to be determined, it will be conclusively presumed that the stockholder’s approving vote is with respect to all shares which the stockholder is entitled to vote.

(o) Voting need not be by ballot unless requested by a stockholder at the meeting or ordered by the chairman of the meeting; however, all elections of directors shall be by written ballot, unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation; provided, that if authorized by the Board, a written ballot may be submitted by electronic transmission, provided that any such electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that the electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder or proxyholder.

1.8     Record Date for Stockholder Notice .

(p) For purposes of determining the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting or to vote thereat, the Board may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days before the date of any such meeting, and in such event only stockholders of record on the date so fixed are entitled to notice and to vote, notwithstanding any transfer of any shares on the books of the





Corporation after the record date, except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, by these Bylaws, by agreement or by applicable law.

(q) If the Board does not so fix a record date, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of
business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held.

(r) A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting unless the Board fixes a new record date for the adjourned meeting, but the Board shall fix a new record date if the meeting is adjourned for more than thirty (30) days from the date set for the original meeting.

(s) The record date for any other lawful purpose shall be as provided in Section 6.8 of these Bylaws.

1.9     Proxies . Every person entitled to vote for directors, or on any other matter, shall have the right to do so either in person or by one or more agents authorized by a written proxy filed with the Secretary of the Corporation. A written proxy may be in the form of a telegram, cablegram, or other means of electronic transmission which sets forth or is submitted with information from which it can be determined that the telegram, cablegram, or other means of electronic transmission was authorized by the person. No such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three (3) years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A duly executed proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. The revocability of a proxy that states on its face that it is irrevocable shall be governed by the provisions of Section 212(e) of the Delaware General Corporation Law. A stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by filing an instrument in writing revoking the proxy or by filing another duly executed proxy bearing a later date with the Secretary of the Corporation.

A proxy is not revoked by the death or incapacity of the maker unless, before the vote is counted, written notice of such death or incapacity is received by the Secretary of the Corporation.

1.10     List of Stockholders . Not less than 10 days prior to the date of any meeting of stockholders, the Secretary of the Corporation shall prepare a complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of such stockholder; provided, that the Corporation shall not be required to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. For a period of not less than 10 days prior to the meeting, the list shall be available during ordinary business hours for inspection by any stockholder for any purpose germane to the meeting. During this period, the list shall be kept either (1) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting or (2) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. If the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then the list shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting.

1.11     Notice of Stockholder Nominee . Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this paragraph shall be eligible for election by the stockholders as directors of the Corporation. Nominations of persons for election to the Board may be made at a meeting of stockholders (a) by or at the direction of the Board, or (b) provided that the Board has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation entitled to vote for the election of directors at such meeting





who complies with the procedures set forth in this paragraph. Such nominations by any stockholder shall be made pursuant to timely notice in proper written form to the Secretary of the Corporation in accordance with this paragraph. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to or mailed to and received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days in advance of the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that (i) no annual meeting was held in the previous year or (ii) the date of the annual meeting has been changed by more than 30 days from the date of the previous year’s meeting, or in the event of a special meeting of stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors, not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of the meeting was made, whichever occurs first. In no event shall the public disclosure of an adjournment or postponement of a stockholders meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholders notice as described above. To be in proper written form, such stockholders’ notice to the Secretary shall set forth in writing (a) as to each person whom such stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director, all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (or any successor thereto) (the “Exchange Act”), including, without limitation, such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as director if elected as well as (i) such person’s name, age, business address and residence address, (ii) his or her principal occupation or employment, (iii) the class and number of shares of the Corporation that are beneficially owned by such person, (iv) a statement as to whether such person, if elected, intends to tender, promptly following such person’s failure to receive the required vote for re-election at the next meeting which such person would face re- election, an irrevocable resignation effective upon acceptance of such resignation by the Board, in accordance with the Corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, and (v) a description of all arrangements or understandings between the stockholder and each nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the nominations are to be made by the stockholder; and (b) as to such stockholder (i) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, (ii) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, and any material interest of such stockholder and owner and (iii) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the stockholder’s notice to the Secretary by, or on behalf of, the stockholder or any of its affiliates or associates, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of the stockholder or any of its affiliates or associates with respect to shares of stock of the Corporation, and a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing within five business days after the record date for such meeting of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting. At the request of the Board, any person nominated by the Board for election as a director shall furnish to the Secretary of the Corporation that information required to be set forth in a stockholder’s notice of nomination which pertains to the nominee. No person shall be eligible for election by the stockholders as a director unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Bylaws of the Corporation. The chairman of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare at the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Bylaws of the Corporation, and if he or she shall so determine, he or she shall so declare at the meeting that the defective nomination shall be disregarded.

1.12     Stockholder Proposals . At any special meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board. At any annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been brought before the meeting (a) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board, (b) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board, or (c) by any stockholder who complies with the procedures set forth in this paragraph. For business properly to be brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper





written form to the Secretary of the Corporation and such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for

stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to or mailed to and received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days in advance of the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that (1) no annual meeting was held in the previous year or (2) the date of the annual meeting has been changed by more than 30 days from the date of the previous year’s meeting, not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of the meeting was made, whichever occurs first. In no event shall the public disclosure of an adjournment or postponement of a stockholders meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholders notice as described above. To be in proper written form, such stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth in writing as to each matter such stockholder proposed to bring before the annual meeting (a) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, (b) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, of the stockholder proposing such business, and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, (c) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the Bylaws of the Corporation, the language of the proposed amendment) and the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting, (d) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are owned beneficially by such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, (e) any material interest in such business of the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, (f) any other information that is required to be provided by the stockholder pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act in such stockholder’s capacity as a proponent of a stockholder proposal, (g) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business, and (h) a representation whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a group which intends (1) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or (2) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal. The foregoing notice requirements shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of his or her intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with Rule 14a-8 (or any successor thereof) promulgated under the Exchange Act and such stockholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting. Notwithstanding anything in the Bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at an annual meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this paragraph. The chairman of an annual meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare at the meeting that business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph, and, if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare at the meeting that any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.



1.13     Public Disclosure; Conduct of Nominations and Proposals by Stockholders .

(a)     For purposes of Sections 1.4(a), 1.11 and 1.12 hereof, “public disclosure” shall mean disclosure in (i) a press release released by the Corporation to the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press, Reuters or comparable national news service, (ii) on the Corporation’s website, or (iii) in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

(b)     Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of these Sections 1.11 and 1.12, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation.






(c)     Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of Sections 1.11 and 1.12, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in Sections 1.11 and 1.12. Nothing in Sections 1.11 and 1.12 shall be deemed to affect any rights (i) of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or (ii) of the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect directors under specified circumstances pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation.

1.14     Meeting Required . Whenever the vote of stockholders at a meeting thereof is required or permitted to be taken for or in connection with any corporate action, such vote may only be taken at an annual or special meeting with prior notice, except as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation. Stockholders shall not have the power to act by means of a written consent.

1.15     Organization .

(a)     Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board, if any, or in his or her absence by the Vice Chairman of the Board, if any, or in his or her absence, by the Chief Executive Officer, if any, or in his or her absence by a chairman of the meeting, which chairman must be an officer or director of the Corporation and must be designated as chairman of the meeting by the Board. The Secretary, or in his or her absence an Assistant Secretary, or in his or her absence a person whom the person presiding over the meeting shall appoint, shall act as secretary of the meeting and keep a record of the proceedings thereof.


(b)     The Board shall be entitled to make such rules or regulations for the conduct of meetings of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Subject to such rules and regulations of the Board, if any, the person presiding over the meeting shall have the right and authority to convene and adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of the person presiding over the meeting, are necessary, appropriate or convenient for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, establishing an agenda or order of business for the meeting, rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present, limitations on participation in such meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation and their duly authorized and constituted proxies and such other persons as the person presiding over the meeting shall permit, restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof, limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants and regulation of the opening and closing of the polls for balloting and matters which are to be voted on by ballot. The person presiding over the meeting, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a matter or business was not properly brought before the meeting and if the person presiding over the meeting should so determine and declare, any such matter or business shall not be transacted or considered. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board or the person presiding over the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with rules of parliamentary procedure.

1.16     Inspectors of Election . Before any meeting of stockholders, the Board may, and shall if required by law, appoint one or more inspectors of election, who may be employees of the Corporation, to act at the meeting or its adjournment and to make a written report thereof. If any person appointed as inspector fails to appear or fails or refuses to act, then the person presiding over the meeting may, and upon the request of any stockholder or a stockholder’s proxy, shall appoint a person to fill that vacancy.

Such inspectors shall:

(a)     determine the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, the number of shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum, and the authenticity, validity, and effect of proxies and ballots;

(b)     receive votes and ballots, including, if applicable, votes and ballots submitted by means of electronic transmission;






(c)     hear and determine all challenges and questions in any way arising in connection with the right to vote;

(d)     determine when the polls shall close;

(e)     determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspector or inspectors;

(f)     certify their determination of the number of shares of the Corporation represented at the meeting and such inspectors’ count of all votes and ballots, which certification and report shall specify such other information as may be required by law; and


(g)     do any other acts that may be proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all stockholders.

Each inspector of election shall perform his or her duties impartially, in good faith, to the best of his or her ability and as expeditiously as is practical, and before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath to execute faithfully the duties of inspector of election with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots cast at any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, the inspectors may consider such information as is permitted by applicable law. If there are three (3) or more inspectors of election, the decision, act or certificate of a majority is effective in all respects as the decision, act or certificate of all. Any report or certificate made by the inspectors of election is prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

2.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

2.1     Number, Qualification, Election and Term of Directors . The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board, which may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws directed or required to be exercised or done exclusively by the stockholders. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock, the number of directors may be fixed or changed from time to time by resolution of a majority of the entire Board; provided the number shall be no less than three (3) and no more than eleven (11), or, if the number is not fixed, the number shall be seven (7). No reduction in the number of directors shall have the effect of shortening the term of any incumbent director, and when so fixed, such number shall continue to be the authorized number of directors until changed by the Board by vote as aforesaid. The directors shall be divided into three (3) classes, Class I, Class II and Class III, each class to be as nearly equal in number as possible. The term of office of each director shall be until the third annual meeting following his or her election and until the election and qualification of his or her successor; provided, however, the directors first serving as Class I directors shall serve for a term expiring at the annual meeting next following September 30, 2003, the directors first serving as Class II directors shall serve for a term expiring at the second annual meeting next following September 30, 2003, and the directors first serving as Class III directors shall serve for a term expiring at the third annual meeting next following September 30, 2003. As used in these Bylaws, the term “entire Board” means the total number of directors which the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies on the Board.

2.2     Quorum and Manner of Acting .

(a) A majority of the entire Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting, except as provided in Section 2.10 of these Bylaws. In the absence of a quorum a majority of the directors present may adjourn any meeting from time to time until a quorum is present. Every act or decision done or made by a majority of the directors present at a duly held meeting at which a quorum is present shall be regarded as the act of the Board, except as provided in Section 5.1 of these Bylaws and subject to the provisions





of the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law.

(b) A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business notwithstanding the withdrawal of directors, if any action taken is approved by at least a majority of the required quorum for that meeting.


2.3     Place of Meetings . Meetings of the Board may be held in or outside Delaware.

2.4     Annual and Regular Meetings . Annual meetings of the Board for the election of officers and consideration of other matters shall be held either (a) without notice immediately after the annual meeting of stockholders and at the same place, or (b) as soon as practicable after the annual meeting of stockholders, on notice as provided in Section 2.6 of these Bylaws. Regular meetings of the Board may be held without notice and, unless otherwise specified by the Board, shall be held in accordance with a schedule and at such locations as determined from time to time by the Board, provided no less than five (5) such meetings shall beheld each year. If the day fixed for a regular meeting is a legal holiday, the meeting shall be held on the next business day.

2.5     Special Meetings . Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or by a majority of the directors in office.

2.6     Notice of Meetings; Waiver of Notice . Notice of the time and place of each special meeting of the Board, and of each annual meeting not held immediately after the annual meeting of stockholders and at the same place, shall be given to each director in advance of the time set for such meeting as provided herein; provided, that if the meeting is to be held at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, the notice need not specify the place of the meeting. Except for amendments to the Bylaws, as provided under Section 8.9, notice of a special meeting need not state the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called and, unless indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting. Notice need not be given to any director who submits a signed waiver of notice before or after the meeting or who attends the meeting without protesting at the beginning of the meeting the transaction of any business because the meeting was not lawfully called or convened. Notice of any adjourned meeting need not be given, other than by announcement at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken unless the meeting is adjourned for more than twenty-four (24) hours. If the meeting is adjourned for more than twenty-four (24) hours, then notice of the time and place of the adjourned meeting shall be given before the adjourned meeting takes place, in the manner specified herein to the directors who were not present at the time of adjournment. Notice of a special meeting may be given by any one or more of the following methods and the method used need not be the same for each director being notified:

(a)    written notice sent by mail at least three (3) days prior to the meeting;

(b)    personal service at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the time of the meeting;

(c)    telegraphic notice at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the time of the meeting, said notice to be sent as a straight full-rate telegram;

(d)    telephonic notice at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the time of the meeting;

(e)    facsimile or other means of electronic transmission at least twenty-four
(24) hours prior to the time of the meeting.

Any oral notice given personally or by telephone may be communicated either to the director or to a person at the office of the director who the person giving the notice has reason to believe will promptly communicate it to the director.






2.7     Board or Committee Action Without a Meeting . Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board or by any committee of the Board may be taken without a meeting if all of the members of the Board or of the committee individually or collectively consent in writing or by electronic transmission to the adoption of a resolution authorizing the action. Such action by written consent shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of the Board. The resolution and the written consents or electronic transmission or transmissions by the members of the Board or the committee shall be filed with the minutes of the proceeding of the Board or of the committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

2.8     Participation in Board or Committee Meetings by Conference Telephone . Any or all members of the Board or of any committee of the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board or of the committee by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

2.9     Resignation and Removal of Directors . Any director may resign at any time by delivering his or her resignation in writing, including by means of electronic transmission, to the President or Secretary of the Corporation, to take effect at the time specified in the resignation; the acceptance of a resignation, unless required by its terms, shall not be necessary to make it effective. Subject to the Certificate of Incorporation, applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of shares of preferred stock then outstanding, any or all of the directors of the Corporation may be removed from office at any time by the stockholders only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors. A director may not be removed by the stockholders at a meeting unless the notice of the meeting states that the purpose, or one of the purposes, of the meeting is the removal of the director. Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the holders of any one or more classes or series of preferred stock issued by the Corporation shall have the right, voting separately by class or series, to elect directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, the election, term of office, filling of vacancies and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation applicable thereto, and such directors so elected shall not be divided into classes pursuant thereto unless expressly provided otherwise by such terms.


2.10     Vacancies . Subject to applicable law and the terms of any one or more classes or series of preferred stock, any vacancy on the Board that results from an increase in the number of directors or resulting from the death, resignation, removal from office or any other cause may be filled by a majority of the Board then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director and not, unless otherwise determined by resolution of a majority of the entire Board, by the stockholders. Any director of any class elected to fill a vacancy resulting from an increase in the number of directors of such class shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining term of that class. Any director elected to fill a vacancy not resulting from an increase in the number of directors shall have the same remaining term as that of his predecessor. The Board may, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, decide to reduce the size of the Board to eliminate an existing vacancy thereon.

2.11     Compensation . The Board is authorized to fix such compensation for directors as it may determine, including a fee and reimbursement of expenses for attendance at any meeting of the directors or committees. A director may also be paid for serving the Corporation, its affiliates or its subsidiaries in other capacities.

2.12     Notice to Members of the Board of Directors . Each member of the Board shall file with the Secretary of the Corporation an address to which mail or telegraphic notices shall be sent, a telephone number to which a telephonic or facsimile notice may be transmitted and, at the sole discretion of a director, such electronic address to which other electronic transmissions may be sent. A notice mailed, telegraphed, telephoned or transmitted by facsimile or other means of electronic transmission in accordance with the instructions provided by the director shall be deemed sufficient notice. Such address or telephone number may be changed at any time and from time to time by a director by giving written notice of such change to the Secretary. Failure on the part





of any director to keep an address and telephone number on file with the Secretary (but not including an address for other electronic transmissions) shall automatically constitute a waiver of notice of any regular or special meeting of the Board which might be held during the period of time that such address and telephone number are not on file with the Secretary. A notice shall be deemed to be mailed when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid. A notice shall be deemed to be telegraphed when the notice is delivered to the transmitter of the telegram and either payment or provision for payment is made by the Corporation. Notice shall be deemed to be given by telephone if the notice is transmitted over the telephone to some person (whether or not such person is the director) or message recording device answering the telephone at the number which the director has placed on file with the Secretary. Notice shall be deemed to be given by facsimile or other means of electronic transmission when sent to the telephone number or other address which the director has placed on file with the Secretary.


2.13     Organization . Meetings of the Board shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board, if any, or in his or her absence by the Vice Chairman of the Board, if any, or in his or her absence by the Chief Executive Officer, if any, or in his or her absence by the President, if any. In the absence of all such directors, a president pro tem chosen by a majority of the directors present shall preside at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence the Chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

3.
COMMITTEES .

3.1     Audit Committee . The Board by resolution shall designate an Audit Committee consisting of three directors or such number of members as may be specified by the Board, which shall review the internal financial controls of the Corporation, and the integrity of its financial reporting, and have such other powers and duties as the Board determines in accordance with applicable law and regulations. The Board shall adopt a charter, which may be amended from time to time, setting forth the powers and duties of the Audit Committee. The members of the Audit Committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Board. All action of the Audit Committee shall be reported to the Board at its next meeting.

3.2     Compensation Committee . The Board by resolution shall designate a Compensation Committee consisting of such number of members as may be specified by the Board, which shall administer the Corporation’s compensation plans and have such other powers and duties as the Board determines. The members of the Compensation Committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Board. All action of the Compensation Committee shall be reported to the Board at its next meeting. The Board shall adopt a charter, which may be amended from time to time, setting forth the powers and duties of the Compensation Committee.

3.3     Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee . The Board by resolution shall designate a Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee consisting of such number of members as may be specified by the Board, which shall nominate candidates for election to the Board and have such other powers and duties as the Board determines. The members of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Board. All action of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee shall be reported to the Board at its next meeting. The Board shall adopt a Charter, which may be amended from time to time, setting forth the powers and duties of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.

3.4     Other Committees . The Board, by resolution adopted by a majority of the entire Board, may designate other committees of directors of one or more directors, which shall serve at the Board’s pleasure and have such powers and duties as the Board determines.


3.5     Meetings and Action of Committees .

(a) The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee (other than the Audit Committee), who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the





committee. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board at its next meeting. Each committee may adopt rules of procedure and shall meet as provided by those rules or by resolutions of the Board.

(b) Meetings and actions of committees shall be governed by, and held and taken in accordance with, the provisions of Article 2 of these Bylaws, including Section 2.2 (quorum and manner of acting), Section 2.3 (place of meetings), Section 2.4 (annual and regular meetings), Section 2.5 (special meetings), 2.6 (notice of meetings and waiver of notice), Section
2.7 (board or committee action without a meeting), Section 2.8 (participation in Board or committee meetings by conference telephone), Section 2.12 (notice to members of the Board), and Section 2.13 (organization), with such changes in the context of those Bylaws as are necessary to substitute the committee and its members for the Board and its members; provided, however, (i) that the time of regular meetings of committees may be determined either by resolution of the Board or by resolution of the committee, (ii) that special meetings of committees may also be called by resolution of the Board, (iii) that notice of special meetings of committees shall also be given to all alternate members, who shall have the right to attend all meetings of the committee; (iv) that a majority of the members of a committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting; and (v) that the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of a committee shall be required to take action in respect of any matter presented to or requiring the approval of the committee.

3.6 Election Pursuant to Section 141(c)(2) . By resolution of the Board, the Corporation has elected pursuant to Section 141(c) of the Delaware General Corporation Law to be governed by paragraph (2) of Section 141(c) in respect of committees of the Board.

4.
OFFICERS .

4.1     Number; Security . The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a chief executive officer, a president, one or more vice presidents (including executive vice president(s) and senior vice president(s) if the Board so determines), a secretary and a treasurer and a chief financial officer who shall be chosen by the Board and such other officers, including but not limited to a chairman of the Board, a vice chairman of the Board, as the Board shall deem expedient, who shall be chosen in such manner and hold their offices for such terms as the Board may prescribe. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person. The Board may from time to time designate the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Executive Vice President as the Chief Operating Officer of the Corporation. Any Vice President, Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer, or Assistant Secretary, respectively, may exercise any of the powers of the President, the Chief Financial Officer, or the Secretary, respectively, as directed by the Board and shall perform such other duties as are imposed upon such officer by the Bylaws or the Board. The Board may require any officer, agent or employee to give security for the faithful performance of his duties.


4.2     Election; Term of Office; Salaries . The term of office and salary of each of the officers of the Corporation and the manner and time of the payment of such salaries shall be fixed and determined by the Board and may be altered by said Board from time to time at its pleasure, subject to the rights, if any, of said officers under any contract of employment; provided, that the Board may designate such responsibilities to the Compensation Committee and may also authorize the Chief Executive Officer or the President to establish the salaries of officers appointed pursuant to Section 4.3.

4.3     Subordinate Officers . The Board may appoint subordinate officers (including assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers), agents or employees, each of whom shall hold office for such period and have such powers and duties as the Board determines. The Board may delegate to any officer or to any committee the power to appoint and define the powers and duties of any subordinate officers, agents or employees.

4.4     Resignation and Removal of Officers . Any officer may resign at any time by delivering his resignation in writing to the Chief Executive Officer, President or Secretary of the Corporation, to take effect at the time specified in the resignation; the acceptance of a resignation, unless required by its terms, shall not be





necessary to make it effective. Any officer elected or appointed by the Board or appointed by an officer or by a committee may be removed by the Board either with or without cause, and in the case of an officer appointed by an officer or by a committee, by the officer or committee who appointed him or her or by the President.

4.5     Vacancies . A vacancy in any office may be filled for the unexpired term in the manner prescribed in Sections 4.2 and 4.3 of these Bylaws for election or appointment to the office.

4.6     Chairman of the Board . The Chairman of the Board, if such an officer shall be chosen, shall have general supervision, direction and control of the Corporation’s business and its officers, and, if present, preside at meetings of the stockholders and the Board and exercise and perform such other powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned to him by the Board or as may be prescribed by these Bylaws. The Chairman of the Board shall report to the Board.

4.7     Vice Chairman of the Board . The Vice Chairman of the Board, if there shall be one, shall, in the case of the absence, disability or death of the Chairman of the Board, exercise all the powers and perform all the duties of the Chairman of the Board. The Vice Chairman shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be granted or prescribed by the Board.


4.8     Chief Executive Officer . Subject to the control of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation shall have general supervision over the business of the Corporation; the powers and duties of the Chief Executive Officer shall be:

(a) To affix the signature of the Corporation to all deeds, conveyances, mortgages, leases, obligations, bonds, certificates and other papers and instruments in writing which have been authorized by the Board or which, in the judgment of the Chief Executive Officer, should be executed on behalf of the Corporation, and to sign certificates for shares of capital stock of the Corporation.

(b) To have such other powers and be subject to such other duties as the Board may from time to time prescribe.

4.9     President . The powers and duties of the President are:

(a)     To affix the signature of the Corporation to all deeds, conveyances, mortgages, leases, obligations, bonds, certificates and other papers and instruments in writing which have been authorized by the Board or which, in the judgment of the President, should be executed on behalf of the Corporation, and to sign certificates for shares of capital stock of the Corporation.

(b)     To have such other powers and be subject to such other duties as the Board may from time to time prescribe.

4.10     Vice President . In case of the absence, disability or death of the President, the elected Vice President, or one of the elected Vice Presidents, shall exercise all the powers and perform all the duties of the President. If there is more than one elected vice president, the order in which the elected vice presidents shall succeed to the powers and duties of the president shall be as fixed by the Board. The elected Vice President or elected Vice Presidents shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be granted or prescribed by the Board.

Vice presidents appointed pursuant to Section 4.3 shall have such powers and duties as may be fixed by the Chairman of the Board or President, except that such appointed Vice Presidents may not exercise the powers and duties of the president. Each Vice President shall have such powers and duties as the Board or the president assigns to him or her.






4.11     Secretary . The powers and duties of the Secretary are:

(a)     To keep a book of minutes at the principal office of the Corporation, or such other place as the Board may order, of all meetings of its directors and stockholders with the time and place of holding, whether regular or special, and, if special, how authorized, the notice thereof given, the names of those present at directors’ meetings, the number of shares present or represented at stockholders’ meetings and the proceedings thereof.

(b)     To keep the seal of the Corporation, if any, and affix the same, if any, to all instruments which may require it.

(c)     To keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Corporation, or at the office of the transfer agent or agents, a share register, or duplicate share registers, showing the names of the stockholders and their addresses, the number of and classes of shares, and the number and date of cancellation of every certificate surrendered for cancellation.

(d)     To keep a supply of certificates for shares of the Corporation, to fill in all certificates issued, and to make a proper record of each such issuance; provided, that so long as the Corporation shall have one or more duly appointed and acting transfer agents of the shares, or any class or series of shares, of the Corporation, such duties with respect to such shares shall be performed by such transfer agent or transfer agents.

(e)     To transfer upon the share books of the Corporation any and all shares of the Corporation; provided, that so long as the Corporation shall have one or more duly appointed and acting transfer agents of the shares, or any class or series of shares, of the Corporation, such duties with respect to such shares shall be performed by such transfer agent or transfer agents, and the method of transfer of each certificate shall be subject to the reasonable regulations of the transfer agent to which the certificate is presented for transfer, and also, if the Corporation then has one or more duly appointed and acting registrars, to the reasonable regulations of the registrar to which the new certificate is presented for registration; and provided, further that no certificate for shares of stock shall be issued or delivered or, if issued or delivered, shall have any validity whatsoever until and unless it has been signed or authenticated in the manner provided in Section 5.1 hereof.

(f)     To make service and publication of all notices that may be necessary or proper, and without command or direction from anyone. In case of the absence, disability, refusal, or neglect of the Secretary to make service or publication of any notices, then such notices may be served and/or published by the President or a Vice President, or by any person thereunto authorized by either of them or by the Board or by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Corporation.

(g)     To sign certificates for shares of capital stock of the Corporation.

(h)     Generally to do and perform all such duties as pertain to the office of Secretary and as may be required by the Board.

4.12     Treasurer . The Treasurer shall be or shall be under the direction of the Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation, and shall be in charge of the Corporation’s books and accounts. Subject to the control of the Board, he or she shall have such other powers and duties as the Board or the President assigns to him or her.

4.13     Chief Financial Officer . The powers and duties of the Chief Financial Officer are:

(a)     To supervise the corporate-wide treasury functions and financial reporting to external bodies.

(b)     To have the custody of all funds, securities, evidence of indebtedness and other valuable documents of the Corporation and, at the Chief Financial Officer’s discretion, to cause any or all thereof to be deposited for account of the Corporation at such depositary as may be designated from time to time by the





Board.


(c) To receive or cause to be received, and to give or cause to be given, receipts and acquittances for monies paid in for the account of the Corporation.

(d) To disburse, or cause to be disbursed, all funds of the Corporation as may be directed by the Board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements.

(e) To render to the Chief Executive Officer and President, and to the Board, whenever they may require, accounts of all transactions and of the financial condition of the Corporation.

(f) Generally to do and perform all such duties as pertain to the office of Chief Financial Officer and as may be required by the Board.

5.
BUSINESS COMBINATION .

5.1     Vote Required For Certain Business Combinations .

(a) In addition to any affirmative vote required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation, any agreement with any national securities exchange or otherwise, any “Business Combination” (as hereinafter defined) involving the Corporation shall be subject to approval in the manner set forth in this Article 5.

(b) Except as otherwise expressly provided in Section 5.2 herein, no Business Combination shall be consummated or effected unless such Business Combination shall have been approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than sixty-six and two thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the total voting power of all outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation, voting as a single class. Such vote shall be required notwithstanding the fact that no vote for such transaction may be required by law or that approval by some lesser percentage of stockholders may be specified by or pursuant to law, the Bylaws, any agreement with any national securities exchange, or otherwise. Such vote shall be required in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or series of the capital stock of the Corporation required by or pursuant to law, the Certificate of Incorporation or otherwise.

5.2     Business Combinations Requiring Only Majority Stockholder Approval .

(a)     The approval required in Section 5.1 hereinabove shall not be required and the provisions of Section 1.5 of these Bylaws relating to the majority vote required for shareholder approval, if applicable, shall apply to any Business Combination, if any of the following conditions are satisfied:

(1) The Business Combination shall have been expressly approved by a majority of the “Continuing Directors” (as hereinafter defined) either in advance of or subsequent to the acquisition of outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation that caused the “Interested Person” (as hereinafter defined) involved to become an Interested Person; or


(2)
All of the following five conditions have been met:

(i) The aggregate amount of the cash and the “Fair Market Value” (as hereinafter defined) as of the “Consummation Date” (as hereinafter defined) of all property, securities or other consideration to be received per share of capital stock of the Corporation incident to the consummation of such Business Combination by any holder of such stock, other than the Interested Person involved in such Business Combination, is not less than the highest of the following (the requirements of this Section 5.2(a)(2)(i) to be met with respect to all outstanding shares of all classes of the capital stock of the Corporation, whether or not the Interested Person has previously acquired shares of each particular class of such stock):






(A) The “Highest Per Share Price” (as hereinafter defined) or the “Highest Equivalent Price” (as hereinafter defined) paid by such Interested Person in acquiring any holdings of the Corporation’s capital stock, plus an amount equivalent to interest compounded annually from the date of such purchase through the Consummation Date at the prime rate of interest as announced from time to time by Bank of America, N.A. (or such other bank as may be selected by a majority of the Continuing Directors), less the aggregate amount of any cash dividends paid and the Fair Market Value as of the date paid of any dividends paid other than in cash on each share of capital stock of the class in question from the date of such purchase through the Consummation Date in an amount up to but not exceeding the amount equivalent to interest as so calculated;

(B) The highest preferential amount per share to which the holders of shares of any class or series of preferred stock are entitled in the event of dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation; or

(C) The Fair Market Value of such shares as of the “Announcement Date” (as hereinafter defined).

(ii) The consideration to be received by holders of outstanding capital stock shall be paid in cash or in the same form as was previously paid in order to acquire such shares of such class of capital stock as are beneficially owned by the Interested Person. If the Interested Person beneficially owns shares of any class of capital stock of the Corporation which were acquired with varying forms of consideration, the form of consideration to be received by holders of such class of capital stock shall be either cash or the form used to acquire the largest number of shares of such class of capital stock beneficially owned by the Interested Person.


(iii) After such Interested Person has become an Interested Person and prior to the consummation of the Business Combination: (A) except as approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors, there shall have been no failure to declare and pay at the regular date therefor any full quarterly dividends (whether or not cumulative) on any outstanding preferred stock; (B) there shall have been (i) no reduction in the annual rate of dividends paid on the Common Stock (except as necessary to reflect any subdivision of the Common Stock), except as approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors, and (ii) such increase in such annual rate of dividends as is necessary to prevent any such reduction in the event of any reclassification (including any reverse stock split), recapitalization, reorganization or any similar transaction which has the effect of reducing the number of outstanding shares of the Common Stock, unless the failure so to increase such annual rate is approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors; and (C) such Interested Person shall not have become the beneficial owner of any additional shares of voting capital stock of the Corporation except as part of the transaction in which it became an Interested Person.

(iv) After such Interested Person has become an Interested Person, such Interested Person shall not have received the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately solely in such Interested Person’s capacity as a shareholder of the Corporation), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial assistance or any tax credits or other tax advantages provided by the Corporation, whether in anticipation of or in connection with such Business Combination or otherwise.

(v) A proxy or information statement describing the proposed Business Combination and complying with the requirements of the “Exchange Act” (as hereinafter defined) and the rules and regulations thereunder (or any subsequent provisions replacing the Exchange Act or such rules and regulations), shall have been mailed to all stockholders of the Corporation at least 30 days prior to the Consummation Date. Such statement shall contain at the front thereof, in a prominent place, a statement by the Continuing Directors of their position on the advisability (or inadvisability) of the proposed Business Combination. Such proxy or information statement shall be required for purposes of this Section 5.2(a)(2) whether or not it is required to be mailed pursuant to the provisions of the Exchange Act (or any subsequent provisions).






5.3     Definitions . For the purposes of this Article 5:

(a)     The term “Business Combination” shall mean (i) any merger, consolidation or exchange of shares of capital stock of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries (as hereinafter defined) with or into an Interested Person, in each case irrespective of which corporation or company is to be the surviving entity; (ii) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition to or with an Interested Person (in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) other than in the ordinary course of business, of all or a substantial part of the assets of the Corporation (including without limitation any securities or assets of a subsidiary of the Corporation) or all or a substantial part of the assets of any of its subsidiaries; (iii) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition to or with the Corporation or to or with any of its subsidiaries (in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) other than in the ordinary course of business, of all or a substantial part of the

assets of an Interested Person; (iv) the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries of any securities of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries to an Interested Person (other than an issuance or transfer of securities which is effected on a pro rata basis to all stockholders of the Corporation); (v) the acquisition by the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries from an Interested Person of any securities issued by an Interested Person (other than an issuance or transfer of securities which is effected on a pro rata basis to all stockholders of the Interested Person); (vi) any recapitalization or reclassification of shares of any class of capital stock of the Corporation or any merger or consolidation of the Corporation with any of its subsidiaries which would have the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class of capital stock of the Corporation (or any securities convertible into any class of such capital stock) owned by any Interested Person; (vii) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation with any of its subsidiaries after which the provisions of this Article 5 of the Certificate of Incorporation shall not appear in the Certificate of Incorporation of the surviving entity; (viii) a plan of partial or complete liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation or spin off or sale of a substantial part of the assets of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries proposed by or on behalf of an Interested Person; and (ix) any agreement, contract, plan, proposal or other arrangement providing for any of the foregoing.

(b)     The term “Continuing Director” shall mean any Director of the Corporation who is not an “Affiliate,” “Associate” or nominee of or member of a “Group” with the Interested Person (as such terms are hereinafter defined) and who either (i) held the office of Director prior to the date on which the Interested Person became an Interested Person, or (ii) is designated as a Continuing Director by a majority of the then Continuing Directors.

(c) The term “Interested Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership or other person or entity which, at any time during the period commencing two (2) years prior to the Announcement Date through and including the Consummation Date, is or was a “Beneficial Owner” (as defined in Rule 13d(3) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act as in effect on September 4, 2003) of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which, when combined with the shares of capital stock beneficially owned by any “Affiliates” or “Associates” (as defined in Rule 12b(2) of the Exchange Act as in effect on June 30, 2003) of such Interested Person or by other members of a “Group” (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act as in effect on June 30, 2003) of which such Interested Person is a member, collectively amount to ten percent (10%) or more of the total voting power of all outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation. The term Interested Person shall also mean any Affiliate or Associate of any such Interested Person and any other member of a Group of which such Interested Person is a member, and shall also mean any person or entity which, upon consummation of a Business Combination, would be such an Affiliate, Associate or Group member. The term Interested Person shall not include the Corporation, any subsidiary of the Corporation, any employee benefit plan of the Corporation or of a subsidiary of the Corporation, or any trustee of or fiduciary with respect to any such plan acting in such capacity.







(d) The term “Consummation Date” shall mean the date on which the Business Combination in question is consummated or effected.

(e) The term “Fair Market Value” shall mean (i) in the case of stock, the highest closing sale price during the 30 day period immediately preceding the date in question of a share of such stock on the Composite Tape for New York Stock Exchange Listed Stocks, or, if such stock is not quoted on the Composite Tape, on the New York Stock Exchange, or if such stock is not listed on such Exchange, on the principal United States securities exchange registered under the Exchange Act on which such stock is listed, or, if such stock is not listed on any such exchange, the highest closing bid quotation with respect to a share of such stock during the 30-day period preceding the date in question on the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System or any system then in use, or if no such quotations are available, the fair market value on the date in question of a share of such stock as determined by a majority of the Continuing Directors, and (ii) in the case of property other than cash or stock, the fair market value of such property on the date in question as determined by a majority of the Continuing Directors.

(f) The terms “Highest Per Share Price” and “Highest Equivalent Price” shall mean the following. The Highest Per Share Price shall mean the highest price that can be determined to have been paid during the relevant time period by the Interested Person involved for any share or shares of the class or series of capital stock in question. If the Interested Person has not purchased any shares of such class or series of capital stock of the Corporation during the relevant time period, the Highest Equivalent Price shall mean with respect to each class and series of capital stock of the Corporation, the amount determined by a majority of the Continuing Directors, on whatever basis they believe to be appropriate, to be the highest per share price equivalent of the highest price that can be determined to have been paid during the relevant time by the Interested Person involved for any share or shares of any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation. In determining the Highest Per Share Price and Highest Equivalent Price, all purchases by such Interested Person or any Affiliate, Associate or Group member shall be taken into account regardless whether the shares were purchased before or after such Interested Person became an Interested Person. The Highest Per Share Price and the Highest Equivalent Price shall include any brokerage commissions, transfer taxes and soliciting dealers’ fees paid by such Interested Person or any such Affiliate, Associate or Group member with respect to the shares of capital stock of the Corporation, and shall be appropriately adjusted to take into account any subsequent recapitalization, stock split, stock dividend or similar distribution. In the event any Business Combination involving an Interested Person shall be proposed, the Continuing Directors shall determine the Highest Equivalent Price for each class and series of the capital stock of the Corporation of which there are shares issued and outstanding.

(g) The term “Announcement Date” shall mean the earlier of the date on which a Business Combination is first publicly proposed or announced or the Consummation Date of such Business Combination.


(h) The term “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of l934, as amended.

(i) Any corporation of which the Corporation owns, directly or indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more of its voting stock shall be deemed to be a “subsidiary” of the Corporation.

(j) For the purposes of Section 5.2(a)(2)(i) hereinabove, the term “other consideration to be received” shall include, without limitation, Common Stock or other capital stock of the Corporation retained by stockholders of the Corporation (other than Interested Persons or other parties to such Business Combination) in the event of a Business Combination in which the Corporation is the surviving entity.

(k) Whether or not any proposed sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition of part of the assets of any entity involves a “substantial part” of the assets of such entity shall be conclusively determined by a majority of the Continuing Directors; provided that assets involved in any single transaction or series of related transactions having an aggregate Fair Market Value of more than fifteen percent (15%) of the total consolidated assets of an entity and the other members of the consolidated group, if any, of which it is a part as at the end of such entity’s last full fiscal year prior to such determination shall always be





deemed to constitute a “substantial part.”

(l) An Interested Person shall be deemed to have acquired a share of the capital stock of the Corporation at the time when such Interested Person became the Beneficial Owner thereof.

(m) A majority of the then Continuing Directors shall have the right and power to make, in good faith, any determinations required under this Article 5, including without limitation (i) whether a transaction is a Business Combination, (ii) whether a person is an Interested Person, or (iii) whether the conditions set out in Section 5.2(a)(2) of this Article 5 have been satisfied with respect to any Business Combination.

5.4     Fiduciary Obligations . Nothing contained in this Article 5 shall be construed to relieve any Interested Person from any fiduciary obligation imposed by law.

5.5     Deliberation By Directors . The Directors of the Corporation, when evaluating any proposal or offer which would involve a Business Combination or the merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries with another corporation, the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, a tender offer or exchange offer for any capital security of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or any similar transaction shall give due consideration to all factors they may consider relevant. Such factors may include, without limitation, (a) the financial and managerial resources and future prospects of the other party(s), the legal, economic, environmental and social effects of the proposed transaction on the Corporation’s and its subsidiaries’ employees, customers, suppliers and other affected persons and entities and on the communities and geographic areas in which the Corporation and its subsidiaries operate or are located, and the effect on any of the businesses and properties of the Corporation and its subsidiaries, and (b) the adequacy, both in amount and form, of the consideration offered in relation not only to the current market price of the Corporation’s outstanding securities, but also the current value of the Corporation in a freely negotiated transaction and the Continuing Directors’ estimate of the Corporation’s future value (including the unrealized value of its properties, assets and prospects) as an independent going concern.


5.6     Amendment . The provisions of this Article 5 shall not be amended, altered, changed or repealed nor may any provision inconsistent with any of such provisions be added to these Bylaws unless approved in accordance with Section 8.9 of these Bylaws.

6.
SHARES .

6.1     Shares of the Corporation . The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Notwithstanding the adoption of such a resolution by the Board, every holder of stock represented by certificates and upon request every holder of uncertificated shares shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors or by the President or a Vice President, and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, representing the number of shares registered in certificate form. The signatures of any such officers thereon may be facsimiles. The seal of the Corporation shall be impressed, by original or by facsimile, printed or engraved, on all such certificates. The certificate shall also be signed by the transfer agent and a registrar and the signature of either the transfer agent or the registrar may also be facsimile, engraved or printed. In case any officer, transfer agent, or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any such certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, such certificate may nevertheless be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such officer, transfer agent, or registrar had not ceased to be such officer, transfer agent, or registrar at the date of its issue.

6.2     Special Designation on Certificates . If the Corporation is authorized to issue more than one class





of stock or more than one series of any class, then the powers, the designations, the preferences, and the relative, participating, optional or other special rights or each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of the certificate that the Corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided in Section 202 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, in lieu of the foregoing requirements there may be set forth on the face or back of the certificate that the Corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, the designations, the preferences, and the relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.


6.3     Lost, Stolen, Destroyed and Mutilated Certificates . The owner of any stock of the Corporation shall immediately notify the Corporation of any loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of any certificate therefor, and the Corporation may issue uncertificated shares or a new certificate for stock in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by it and alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Board may, in its discretion, require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or his or her legal representatives to give the Corporation a bond in such sum, limited or unlimited, and in such form and with such surety or sureties, as the Board shall in its uncontrolled discretion determine, to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate, or the issuance of any such new certificate or uncertificated shares. The Board may, however, in its discretion refuse to issue any such new certificate or uncertificated shares except pursuant to legal proceedings under the laws of the State of Delaware in such case made and provided.

6.4     Stock Records . The Corporation or a transfer agent shall keep stock books in which shall be recorded the number of shares issued, the names of the owners of the shares, the number owned by them respectively, whether such shares are represented by certificates or are uncertificated, and the transfer of such shares with the date of transfer.

6.5     Transfers . Transfers of stock shall be made only on the stock transfer record of the Corporation upon surrender of the certificate or certificates being transferred which certificate shall be properly endorsed for transfer or accompanied by a duly executed stock power, except in the case of uncertificated shares, for which the transfer shall be made only upon receipt of transfer documentation reasonably acceptable to the Corporation. Whenever a certificate is endorsed by or accompanied by a stock power executed by someone other than the person or persons named in the certificate, or the transfer documentation for the uncertificated shares is executed by someone other than the holder of record thereof, evidence of authority to transfer same shall also be submitted with the certificate or transfer documentation. All certificates surrendered to the Corporation for transfer shall be canceled.

6.6     Regulations Governing Issuance and Transfers of Shares . The Board shall have the power and authority to make all such rules and regulations as it shall deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer and registration of shares of stock of the Corporation.

6.7     Transfer Agents and Registrars . The Board may appoint, or authorize one or more officers to appoint, one or more transfer agents and one or more registrars.


6.8     Record Date for Purposes Other Than Notice and Voting . For purposes of determining the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted and which shall not be more than sixty (60) days before any such action. In that case, only stockholders of record at the close of business on the date so fixed are entitled to receive the dividend, distribution or allotment of rights, or to exercise such rights, as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of any shares on the books of the





Corporation after the record date so fixed, except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, by these Bylaws, by agreement or by law. If the Board does not so fix a record date, then the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the applicable resolution.

6.9     Stock Repurchases .

(a) In addition to any affirmative vote of stockholders required by any provision of law or the Certificate of Incorporation of this Corporation or by these Bylaws, the Corporation shall not, directly or indirectly, purchase or agree to purchase any equity security of a class of securities which is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act issued by the Corporation from any Person or two or more Persons who act as a partnership, limited partnership, syndicate, or other group pursuant to any agreement, arrangement, relationship, understanding or otherwise, whether or not in writing, for the purpose of acquiring, owning or voting shares of the Corporation, who is the Beneficial Owner of more than five percent (5%) of the aggregate voting power of the Corporation, for more than the Average Market Price of the shares, unless (i) the purchase or agreement to purchase is approved at a meeting of the stockholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the aggregate voting power of all shares entitled to vote, except that no Interested Shares shall be entitled to vote on the question of such approval or (ii) the Corporation makes an offer of at least equal value per share to all holders of shares of the same class or series and to all holders of any class or series into which the securities may be converted.

(b)
For purposes of this Bylaw, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Average Market Price” shall mean the average closing sale price during the thirty (30) trading days immediately preceding the purchase of the share in question, or if the Person or Persons have commenced a tender offer or have announced an intention to seek control of the Corporation, during the thirty (30) trading days preceding the earlier of the commencement of the tender offer or the making of the announcement, of a share on the composite tape for New York Stock Exchange listed shares or, if the shares are not quoted on the composite tape or not listed on the New York Stock Exchange, on the principal United States securities exchange registered under the Exchange Act on which the shares are listed or, if the share are not listed on any such exchange, on the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. automated quotations national market system or, or if the Person or Persons have commenced a tender offer or have announced an intention to seek control of the Corporation, during the thirty trading days preceding the earlier of the commencement of the tender offer or the making of the announcement, except that if no quotation is available, the average market price is the fair market value on the date of purchase of the shares in question of a share as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.


(2)     “Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Rule 13(d)(3) and rule 13(d)(5) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, as in effect on June 30, 2003.

(3)    “Interested Shares” shall mean all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors that are beneficially owned by any Person or Persons that is the direct or indirect Beneficial Owner of more than five percent (5%) of the aggregate voting power of the Corporation.

(4)    “Person” shall mean any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, association, trust, unincorporated organization, or other entity, as well as any syndicate or group deemed to be a Person pursuant to Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, as in effect on June 30, 2003, other than the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation.






7.
ELECTION OF CERTAIN STATE LAWS .

7.1     Election Regarding Certain State Anti-Takeover Laws . The Corporation hereby expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. The Corporation also elects not to be governed by A.R.S. Sections 10-2721 through 2743 or Sections 10-2704 through 2706. This election does not apply to any business combination of the Corporation with an interested stockholder whose share acquisition date is on or before the adoption date of these Bylaws.

8.
MISCELLANEOUS .

8.1     Seal . The Board shall adopt a corporate seal, which shall be in the form of a circle and shall bear the Corporation’s name and the year and state in which it was incorporated.

8.2     Fiscal Year . The Board may determine the Corporation’s fiscal year. Until changed by the Board, the Corporation’s fiscal year shall be October 1st through September 30th of the following year.

8.3     Voting of Shares in Other Corporations . Shares in other corporations which are held by the Corporation may be represented and voted by the President or a Vice President of this Corporation or by proxy or proxies appointed by one of them. The Board may, however, appoint some other person to vote the shares.

8.4     Checks; Drafts; Evidences of Indebtedness . From time to time, the Board shall determine by resolution which person or persons may sign or endorse all checks, drafts, other orders for payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness that are issued in the name of or payable to the Corporation, and only the persons so authorized shall sign or endorse those instruments.


8.5     Corporate Contracts and Instruments; How Executed . The Board, except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, may authorize any officer or officers, or agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation; such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

8.6     Construction; Definitions . Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of construction, and definitions in the Delaware General Corporation Law shall govern the construction of these Bylaws. Without limiting the generality of this provision, the singular number includes the plural, the plural number includes the singular, the term “person” includes both a corporation and a natural person, and the masculine gender includes the feminine gender and vice versa.

8.7     Provisions Additional to Provisions of Law . All restrictions, limitations, requirements and other provisions of these Bylaws shall be construed, insofar as possible, as supplemental and additional to all provisions of law applicable to the subject matter thereof and shall be fully complied with in addition to the said provisions of law unless such compliance shall be illegal.

8.8     Provisions Contrary to Provisions of Law . Any article, section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause or phrase of these Bylaws which upon being construed in the manner provided in Section 8.7 hereof, shall be contrary to or inconsistent with any applicable provisions of law, shall not apply so long as said provisions of law shall remain in effect, but such result shall not affect the validity or applicability of any other portions of these Bylaws, it being hereby declared that these Bylaws would have been adopted and each article, section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause or phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more articles, sections, subsections, subdivisions, sentences, clauses or phrases is or are illegal.

8.9     Amendments . These Bylaws may be repealed, altered or amended, or substituted bylaws may be adopted at any time, only by resolution duly adopted by a majority of the full Board, except for certain provisions concerning take-over or change of control, which may only be amended with the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of the Board, as prescribed in the Certificate of Incorporation.






Whenever an amendment or new bylaw is adopted, it shall be copied in the book of bylaws with the original bylaws, in the appropriate place. If any bylaw is repealed, the fact of repeal with the date of the meeting at which the repeal was enacted or the filing of the operative written consent(s) shall be stated in said book.

8.10     Indemnification and Insurance .

(a) Generally.

(1) The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was or has agreed to serve at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer (which, for purposes hereof, shall include a trustee or similar capacity) of another Corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity.


(2) The Corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was or has agreed to serve at the request of the Corporation as an employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the request of the Corporation as an employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity.

(3) The indemnification provided by this subsection (a) shall be from and against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the indemnitee or on his or her behalf in connection with such action, suit or proceeding and any appeal therefrom, but shall only be provided if the indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and, with respect to any criminal action, suit or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

(4) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this subsection (a), in the case of an action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor (i) the indemnification provided by this subsection (a) shall be limited to expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in the defense or settlement of such action or suit, and (ii) no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless, and only to the extent that, the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

(5) The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.


(b)
Good Faith.

(1) For purposes of any determination under this Bylaw, a director or officer or, if applicable, employee or agent shall be deemed to have acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably





believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, to have had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful, if his or her action is based on information, opinions, reports and statements, including financial statements and other financial data, in each case prepared or presented by:

(i) one or more officers or employees of the Corporation whom the director, officer, employee or agent reasonably believed to be reliable and competent in the matters presented;

(ii) counsel, independent accountants or other persons as to matters which the director, officer, employee or agent reasonably believed to be within such person’s professional competence; and

(iii) with respect to a director, a committee of the Board upon which such director does not serve, as to matters within such Committee’s designated authority, which committee the director reasonably believes to merit confidence; so long as, in each case, the director acts without knowledge that would cause such reliance to be unwarranted.

(2) The termination of any proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, that he or she had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

(3) The provisions of this paragraph (b) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the circumstances in which a person may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth by the Delaware General Corporation Law.

(c) Advancement of Expenses . The Corporation shall advance, prior to the final disposition of any proceeding, promptly following request therefor, all expenses incurred by any director or officer in connection with such proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such person to repay said amounts if it should be determined ultimately that such person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Bylaw or otherwise. Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the Board deems appropriate.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise determined pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Bylaw, no advance shall be made by the Corporation if a determination is made (1) by the Board of directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the proceeding, or (2) if such quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable, a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, that the facts known to the decision making party at the time such determination is made demonstrate clearly and convincingly that such person acted in bad faith or in a manner that such person did not believe to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation.


(d) Enforcement . Without the necessity of entering into an express contract, all rights to indemnification and advances to directors and officers under this Bylaw shall be deemed to be contractual rights and be effective to the same extent and as if provided for in a contract between the Corporation and the director or officer. Any right to indemnification or advances granted by this Bylaw to a director or officer shall be enforceable by or on behalf of the person holding such right in any court of competent jurisdiction if (i) the claim for indemnification or advances is denied, in whole or in part, or (ii) no disposition of such claim is made within ninety (90) days of request therefor. The claimant in such enforcement action, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting his or her claim. The Corporation shall be entitled to raise as a defense to any such action that the claimant has not met the applicable standards of conduct that make it permissible for the Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is





proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that claimant has or has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

(e) Non-Exclusivity of Rights . The rights conferred on any person by this Bylaw shall not be exclusive of any other right which such person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his or her official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding office. The Corporation is specifically authorized to enter into individual contracts with any or all of its directors, officers, employees or agents respecting indemnification and advances, to the fullest extent not prohibited by the Delaware General Corporation Law.

(f) Survival of Rights . The rights conferred on any person by this Bylaw shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or other agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

(g) Insurance . The Corporation may, but shall not be obligated to, maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any loss indemnified pursuant to this Bylaw, regardless whether the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such loss indemnified pursuant to this Bylaw under the Delaware General Corporation Law.


(h) Amendments . Any repeal or modification of this Bylaw shall only be prospective and shall not affect the rights under this Bylaw in effect at the time of the alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that is the cause of any proceeding against any agent of the Corporation.

(i) Saving Clause . If this Bylaw or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify each director and officer to the full extent not prohibited by any applicable portion of this Bylaw that shall not have been invalidated, or by any other applicable law.

(j) Certain Definitions . For the purposes of this Bylaw, the following definitions shall apply:

(1) The term “proceeding” shall be broadly construed and shall include, without limitation, the investigation, preparation, prosecution, defense, settlement, arbitration and appeal of, and the giving of testimony in, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative.

(2) The term “expenses” shall be broadly construed and shall include, without limitation, all direct and indirect costs of any type or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, all attorneys’ fees and related disbursements, other out-of-pocket costs and reasonable compensation for time spent by the indemnified party for which he or she is not otherwise compensated by the Corporation or any third party, provided that the rate of compensation and estimated time involved is approved by the Board, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), actually and reasonably incurred by the indemnified party in connection with either the investigation, defense or appeal of a proceeding or establishing or enforcing a right to indemnification under this Bylaw, Section 145 or otherwise.

(3) The term the “corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such





constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Bylaw with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as he or she would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.


(4) References to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation” as referred to in this Bylaw.





















Exhibit 4.1

EXECUTION COPY
 
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC.
and
COMPUTERSHARE INC.,
as Rights Agent
Rights Agreement
Dated as of June 29, 2016




































Table of Contents


Page


Section 1.
Certain Definitions                                      1
Section 2.
Appointment of Rights Agent                                  7
Section 3.
Issuance of Rights Certificates                              7
Section 4.
Form of Rights Certificates                                  10
Section 5.
Countersignature and Registration                              10
Section 6.
Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates                          11
Section 7.
Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights              12
Section 8.
Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates                      14
Section 9.
Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock                      14
Section 10.
Preferred Stock Record Date                                  16
Section 11.
Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights     16     
Section 12.
Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares                  23
Section 13.
Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets, Cash Flow or Earning Power      24
Section 14.
Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares                          26
Section 15.
Rights of Action                                      27
Section 16.
Agreement of Rights Holders                                  28
Section 17.
Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder                  28
Section 18.
Concerning the Rights Agent                                  29
Section 19.
Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent              29
Section 20.
Rights and Duties of Rights Agent                              30
Section 21.
Change of Rights Agent                                  32
Section 22.
Issuance of New Rights Certificates                              33
Section 23.
Redemption and Termination                                  34
Section 24.
Exchange                                          34
Section 25.
Notice of Certain Events                                  36
Section 26.
Notices                                          37
Section 27.
Supplements and Amendments                              37
Section 28.
Successors                                          38
Section 29.
Determinations and Actions by the Board, etc                      38
Section 30.
Benefits of this Agreement                                  38
Section 31.
Severability                                          39
Section 32.
Governing Law                                      39
Section 33.
Counterparts                                          39
Section 34.
Descriptive Headings; Interpretation                              39
Section 35.
Force Majeure                                          39

    




-i-






EXHIBITS
Exhibit A -
Form of Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock
Exhibit B -
Form of Rights Certificates
Exhibit C -
Form of Summary of Rights



































-ii-







RIGHTS AGREEMENT
RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of June 29, 2016 (the “Agreement”), between Universal Technical Institute, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Computershare Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Rights Agent”).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, on June 29, 2016 (the “Rights Dividend Declaration Date”), the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) authorized and declared a dividend distribution of one Right (as hereinafter defined) for each share of Common Stock (as hereinafter defined) outstanding at the close of business on July 11, 2016 (the “Record Date”), and has authorized the issuance of one Right (as such number may hereinafter be adjusted pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(p) hereof) for each share of Common Stock issued (whether as an original issuance or from the Company’s treasury) between the Record Date and the Distribution Date (as hereinafter defined) and in certain other circumstances provided herein, each Right initially representing the right to purchase one one-thousandth of a share of the Preferred Stock of the Company having the rights, powers and preferences set forth in the form of Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights attached hereto as Exhibit A, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth (the “Rights”);
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions . For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings indicated:

(a) “Acquiring Person” shall mean any Person who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, and together with any other Person with whom such Person is Acting in Concert (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof), shall be the Beneficial Owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, but shall not include (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary of the Company, (iii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person or entity organized, appointed or established by the Company that holds Common Stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan, (iv) any Person who becomes the Beneficial Owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding as a result of a reduction in the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding due to the repurchase of shares of Common Stock by the Company (or any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person or entity organized, appointed or established by the Company that holds Common Stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) unless and until such Person, after becoming aware that such Person has become the Beneficial Owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock, acquires beneficial ownership of additional shares of Common Stock representing 0.25% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, or (v) an Exempt Person, but only for so long as such Exempt Person, together with such Person’s Affiliates and Associates and any other Person with whom such Exempt Person or its Affiliates or Associates is Acting in Concert (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof), does not become the Beneficial Owner of additional shares of Common Stock representing 0.25% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding while such Person is an Exempt Person. For purposes of calculating the beneficial ownership of any Person under this Agreement, neither the numerator or denominator of such calculation shall include any Series A Shares or the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of any Series A Shares that are then subject to the Investor Voting Cap (as such term is defined in the Certificate of Designation). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Board 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 divests as promptly as practicable a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock (or, in the case solely of shares deemed beneficially owned





under the derivative transaction provisions of Section 1(g)(iv), such Person terminates the subject derivative transaction(s) or disposes of the subject derivative security or securities) so that such Person would no longer 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 become an “Acquiring Person” at any time for any purposes of this Agreement.

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

(c) A Person shall be deemed to be “Acting in Concert” with another Person if such Person knowingly acts (whether or not pursuant to an express agreement, arrangement or understanding) in concert or in parallel with such other Person in, or towards a common goal with such other Person, relating to changing or influencing the control of the Company or in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect, where (i) each Person is conscious of the other Person’s conduct and this awareness is an element in their decision-making processes, and (ii) at least one additional factor supports a determination by the Board that such Person intended to act in concert or in parallel with the other Person, which such additional factors may include, without limitation, exchanging information, attending meetings, conducting discussions, or making or soliciting invitations to act in concert or in parallel.

No Person shall be deemed to be Acting in Concert with another Person solely as a result of making or receiving a solicitation of, or granting or receiving, revocable proxies or consents given in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act (as such term is hereinafter defined) by means of a solicitation statement filed on Schedule 14A.
(d) “Adjustment Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

(e)    "Affiliate” and “Associate” shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.
(f)    “Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
(g)    A Person shall be deemed the “Beneficial Owner” of, and shall be deemed to “beneficially own,” any securities:

(i) that such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates, or any other Person with whom such Person is Acting in Concert (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) directly or indirectly, owns or has the right or obligation to acquire (whether such right is exercisable, or such obligation is required to be performed, immediately or only after the passage of time or upon the satisfaction of one or more conditions (whether or not within the control of such Person), compliance with regulatory requirements or otherwise) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, other rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided , however , that a Person shall not be deemed the “Beneficial Owner” of, or to “beneficially own,” (A) securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange, (B) securities issuable upon exercise of Rights at any time prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event, or (C) securities issuable upon exercise of Rights from and after the occurrence of a Triggering Event which Rights were acquired by such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates prior to the Distribution Date or pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section 22 hereof (the “Original Rights”) or pursuant to Section 11(i) hereof in connection with an adjustment made with respect to any Original Rights;

(ii) that such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates, or any other Person with whom such Person is Acting in Concert (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) directly or indirectly,





has or shares the right to vote or dispose of, or to direct the voting or disposal of, or has “beneficial ownership” of (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act), including pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing; provided , however , that a Person shall not be deemed the “Beneficial Owner” of, or to “beneficially own,” any security under this subparagraph (ii) as a result of an agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such security if such agreement, arrangement or understanding: (A) arises solely from a revocable proxy given in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable provisions of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, and (B) is not reportable by such Person on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report);

(iii) that are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) , or any other Person with whom such Person is Acting in Concert (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof), with which such Person (or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates , or any other Person with whom such Person is Acting in Concert (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof),) has any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing), for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable proxy as described in the proviso to subparagraph (ii) of this Section 1(g)) or disposing of any voting securities of the Company; provided , however , that for purposes of determining Beneficial Ownership of securities under this Rights Agreement, officers and directors of the Company solely by reason of their status as such shall not constitute a group (notwithstanding that they may be Associates of one another or may be deemed to constitute a group for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) and shall not be deemed to beneficially own securities owned by another officer or director of the Company; or

(iv) that are the subject of a derivative transaction entered into by such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates or any other Person with whom such Person is Acting in Concert (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof), including, for these purposes, any derivative security acquired by such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates or any other Person with whom such Person is Acting in Concert (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof), that gives such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates or any other Person with whom such Person is Acting in Concert (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) the economic equivalent of ownership of an amount of such securities due to the fact that the value of the derivative is explicitly determined by reference to the price or value of such securities, or which provides such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates or any other Person with whom such Person is Acting in Concert (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) an opportunity, directly or indirectly, to profit, or to share in any profit, derived from any change in the value of such securities, in any case without regard to whether (a) such derivative conveys any voting rights in such securities to such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates or any other Person with whom such Person is Acting in Concert (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof), (b) the derivative is required to be, or capable of being, settled through delivery of such securities, or (c) such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates or any other Person with whom such Person is Acting in Concert (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) may have entered into other transactions that hedge the economic effect of such derivative. In determining the number of shares of Common Stock “beneficially owned” by virtue of the operation of this Section 1(g)(iv), the subject Person shall be deemed to “beneficially own” (without duplication) the notional or other number of shares of Common Stock specified in the documentation evidencing the derivative position as being subject to be acquired upon the exercise or settlement of the applicable right or as the basis upon which the value or settlement amount of such right, or the opportunity of the holder of such right to profit or share in any profit, is to be calculated in whole or in part, and in any case (or if no such number of shares of Common Stock is specified in such documentation or otherwise), as determined by the Board in good faith to be the number of shares of Common Stock to which the derivative position relates; provided , however , that nothing in this Section 1(g) shall cause a Person engaged in business as an underwriter of securities to be the “Beneficial Owner” of, or to “beneficially own,” any securities acquired through such Person’s participation in good faith in a firm





commitment underwriting until the expiration of forty (40) days after the date of such acquisition, and then only if such securities continue to be owned by such Person at such expiration of forty (40) days.

(h)    “Board” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

(i)    “Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

(j)    “close of business” on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M., New York, 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, New York time, on the next succeeding Business Day.

(k)    “Common Stock” shall mean the common stock of the Company of $0.0001 par value per share, except that “Common Stock” when used with reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean the capital stock of such Person with the greatest voting power, or the equity securities or other equity interest having power to control or direct the management, of such Person.

(l)    “Common Stock Equivalents” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.

(m)    “Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

(n)    “Current Market Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(d) hereof.

(o)    “Current Value” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.

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

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

(r)     “Exempt Person” shall mean any Person who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, is, as of the Exempt Time, the Beneficial Owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding. Any Exempt Person who, together with such Person’s Affiliates and Associates, after the Exempt Time becomes the Beneficial Owner of less than fifteen percent (15%) of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding shall cease to be an Exempt Person and shall be subject to all the provisions of this Agreement in the same manner as any Person who is not and was not an Exempt Person. For purposes of determining whether any Person is an Exempt Person, a beneficial owner of Series A Shares at the Exempt Time shall be deemed to own all shares of Common Stock into which such Person’s Series A Shares may be converted (notwithstanding the Investor Voting Cap or the Conversion Cap, as defined in the Certificate of Designations) and such Person shall not become an Acquiring Person by virtue of either (i) the removal of Investor Voting Cap or the Conversion Cap in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of Designations; or (ii) conversion of the Series A Shares following removal of the Conversion Cap in accordance with the Certificate of Designations.

(s)    “Exempt Time” shall mean the time of the first public announcement of adoption of this Agreement.

(t)    “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.






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

(v)    “Expiration Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a) hereof.

(w)    “Final Expiration Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a) hereof.

(x)    “NASDAQ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(d)(i) hereof.

(y)    “NYSE” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(d)(i) hereof.

(z)    “Original Rights” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1(g)(i) hereof.

(aa)    “Person” shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, association, syndicate or other entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of the foregoing.

(bb)    “Preferred Stock” shall mean shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock of $0.0001 par value per share, of the Company, and, to the extent that there are not a sufficient number of shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock authorized to permit the full exercise of the Rights, any other series of preferred stock of the Company designated for such purpose containing terms substantially similar to the terms of the Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock.

(cc)    “Principal Party” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(b) hereof.

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

(ee)    “Record Date” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

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

(gg)    “Rights” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

(hh)    “Rights Agent” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

(ii)    “Rights Certificates” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) hereof.

(jj)    “Rights Dividend Declaration Date” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

(kk)    “Section 11(a)(ii) Event” shall mean any event described in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

(ll)    “Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.

(mm)    “Section 13 Event” shall mean any event described in clauses (x), (y) or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof.
(nn)    “Spread” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.





(oo)    “Stock Acquisition Date” shall mean the first date of public announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include a report filed or amended pursuant to Section 13(d) under the Exchange Act) by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such.

(pp)    “Subsidiary” shall mean, with reference to any Person, any corporation or other entity of which an amount of securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power sufficient to elect at least a majority of the directors or other Persons having similar functions of such corporation or other entity are at the time, directly or indirectly, beneficially owned, or otherwise controlled by such Person.

(qq)    “Substitution Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.

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

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

(tt)    “Triggering Event” shall mean any Section 11(a)(ii) Event or any Section 13 Event.

(uu)    “Series A Shares” shall mean the Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company.

(vv)    “Certificate of Designations” shall mean the Certificate of Designations for the Series A Shares dated June 24, 2016, as the same may be amended from time to time.

Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent . The Company hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company in accordance with the express terms and conditions hereof (and no implied terms or conditions), and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company may from time to time appoint such co-rights agents as it may deem necessary or desirable, upon two (2) business days’ prior notice to the Rights Agent. The Rights Agent shall have no duty to supervise, and in no event shall be liable for, the acts or omissions of any such co-rights agent.

Section 3. Issuance of Rights Certificates .

(a) Until the earlier of (i) the close of business on the tenth (10th) Business Day after the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the tenth (10th) Business Day after the Stock Acquisition Date occurs before the Record Date, the close of business on the Record Date), or (ii) the close of business on the tenth (10th) Business Day (or such later date as the Board shall determine) after the date that a tender or exchange offer by any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person organized, appointed or established by the Company that holds Common Stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) is first published or sent or given within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, if upon consummation thereof, such Person would become an Acquiring Person (the earlier of (i) and (ii) being herein referred to as the “Distribution Date”), (x) the Rights will be evidenced (subject to the provisions of paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Section 3) by the certificates evidencing the Common Stock registered in the names of the holders of the Common Stock (which certificates evidencing the Common Stock shall be deemed also to be certificates evidencing the Rights) and not by separate certificates (or, for shares participating in the direct registration system, by notations in the respective book entry accounts for the Common Stock), and (y) the Rights will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of the underlying shares of Common Stock (including a transfer to the Company). The Company promptly shall notify the Rights Agent in writing upon the occurrence of the Distribution Date and, if such notification is given orally, the Company shall confirm the same in writing on or prior to the next





following Business Day. 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. As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date and receipt by the Rights Agent of notice of such occurrence, the Rights Agent, if requested by the Company and provided with all necessary information and documentation, will, subject to the following sentence, send by first-class, insured, postage prepaid mail (or such other means as may be selected by the Company and not reasonably objected to by the Rights Agent), to each record holder of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date, at the address of such holder then shown on the records of the Company or the transfer agent or the registrar for the Common Stock, one or more rights certificates, in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (the “Rights Certificates”), duly executed and countersigned in the manner provided for in Section 5(a) hereof, evidencing one Right for each share of Common Stock so held, subject to adjustment as provided herein. To the extent that a Section 11(a)(ii) Event has also occurred, the Company may implement such procedures, as it deems appropriate in its sole discretion, to minimize the possibility that Rights Certificates are received by Persons whose Rights would be null and void under Section 7(e) hereof. In the event that an adjustment in the number of Rights per share of Common Stock has been made pursuant to Section 11(p) hereof, at the time of distribution of the Rights Certificates, the Company shall make the necessary and appropriate rounding adjustments (in accordance with Section 14(a) hereof) so that Rights Certificates representing only whole numbers of Rights are distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any fractional Rights. As of and after the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Rights Certificates and may be transferred by the transfer of the Rights Certificates as permitted hereby, separately and apart from any transfer of one or more shares of Common Stock, and the holders of such Rights Certificates as listed in the records of the Company or any transfer agent or registrar for the Rights shall be the record holders thereof.

(b) The Company will make available, as promptly as practicable following the Record Date, a copy of a Summary of Rights, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “Summary of Rights”) to any holder of Rights who may so request from time to time prior to the Expiration Date. With respect to certificates evidencing the Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, or issued subsequent to the Record Date, unless and until the Distribution Date shall occur, the Rights will be evidenced by the certificates for the Common Stock (or, in the case of shares reflected on the direct registration system, the notations in the book-entry account system of the transfer agent for the Common Stock) and the registered holders of the Common Stock shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights. Until the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date, the transfer of any shares of Common Stock in respect of which Rights have been issued shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with such shares of Common Stock. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, upon the effectiveness of a redemption pursuant to Section 23 hereof or an exchange pursuant to Section 24 hereof, the Company shall not thereafter issue any additional Rights and, for the avoidance of doubt, no Rights shall be attached to or shall be issued with any shares of Common Stock (including any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to an exchange) at any time thereafter.

(c) Rights shall be issued in respect of all shares of Common Stock that are issued (whether originally issued or delivered from the Company’s treasury) after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date or, in certain circumstances provided in Section 22 hereof, after the Distribution Date. Certificates representing such shares of Common Stock shall also be deemed to be certificates for Rights, and shall bear a legend in substantially the following form if such certificates are issued after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date:

This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to certain Rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement between Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (the “Company”) and the Rights Agent thereunder (the “Rights Agent”) dated as of June 29, 2016, as originally executed and as it may be amended or restated from time to time (the “Rights Agreement”), the terms of which are hereby incorporated





herein by reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal offices of the Company. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced by separate certificates and will no longer be evidenced by this certificate. The Company will mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement, as in effect on the date of mailing, without charge, promptly after receipt of a written request therefor. Under certain circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights issued to, or held by, any Person who is, was or becomes an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof or any Person with whom such Person was or is Acting in Concert (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), whether currently held by or on behalf of such Person or by any subsequent holder, may become null and void.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the earlier of (i) the Distribution Date or (ii) the Expiration Date, the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone and registered holders of Common Stock shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights, and the transfer of any of such certificates shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates. Similarly, during such time periods, transfers of shares participating in the direct registration system shall also be deemed to be transfers of the associated Rights. In the case of any shares participating in the direct registration system, the Company shall cause the transfer agent for the Common Stock to include on each direct registration account statement with respect thereto issued prior to the Distribution Date a notation to the effect that the Company will mail to the stockholder a copy of the Agreement, as in effect on the date of mailing, without charge, promptly after receipt of a written request therefor and that the recipient of the statement, as a holder of shares of Common Stock, may have certain rights thereunder. In the event that shares of the Common Stock 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 shares.
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates .

The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall each be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto and may have such changes or marks of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement and which do not affect the rights, duties, liabilities or responsibilities of the Rights Agent, or as may be required to comply with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any applicable rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Rights may from time to time be listed, or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 and Section 22 hereof, the Rights Certificates, whenever distributed, shall be dated as of the Record Date and on their face shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock as shall be set forth therein at the price set forth therein (such exercise price per one one-thousandths of a share, the “Purchase Price”), but the amount and type of securities purchasable upon the exercise of each Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration .

(a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President or any Senior Vice President, either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall have affixed thereto the Company’s seal or a facsimile thereof which shall be attested by the





Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, either manually or by facsimile signature. The Rights Certificates shall be countersigned by the Rights Agent, either manually or by facsimile signature and shall not be valid for any purpose unless so countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Rights Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by the Company, such Rights Certificates, nevertheless, may be countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the Company with the same force and effect as though the person who signed such Rights Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Rights Certificates may be signed on behalf of the Company by any person who, at the actual date of the execution of such Rights Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such Rights Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Agreement any such person was not such an officer.

(b) Following the Distribution Date and receipt by the Rights Agent of notice of such occurrence, as provided in Section 3(a) hereof, the Rights Agent will keep, or cause to be kept, at its office or offices designated as the appropriate place for surrender of Rights Certificates upon exercise or transfer, books for registration and transfer of the Rights Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the names and addresses of the respective holders of the Rights Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Rights Certificates and the date of each of the Rights Certificates.

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

(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 7(e) and Section 14 hereof, at any time after the close of business on the Distribution Date, and at or prior to the close of business on the Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate or Certificates (other than Rights Certificates representing Rights that have become void pursuant to Section 7(e) or that have been redeemed pursuant to Section 23 or exchanged pursuant to Section 24 hereof) may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Certificates, entitling the registered holder to purchase a like number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or, following a Triggering Event, Common Stock, other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as the Rights Certificate or Certificates surrendered then entitles such holder (or former holder in the case of a transfer) to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Rights Certificate or Certificates shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Rights Certificate or Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered Rights Certificate until the registered holder thereof shall have (i) properly completed and duly executed the certificate contained in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such Rights Certificate, (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof or Persons Acting in Concert therewith 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 Rights Certificates as required by Section 9(e) hereof. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 7(e), Section 14 and Section 24 hereof, countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or Rights 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 may specify by written notice. The Rights Agent shall have no duty or obligation to take any action under any section of this Agreement related to the exchange, issuance or delivery of Rights Certificates unless and until it is satisfied that all such taxes and/or charges have been paid.






(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Rights Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security satisfactory to them, and reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Rights Certificate, if mutilated, the Company will execute and deliver a new Rights Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and delivery to the registered holder thereof in lieu of the Rights Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.

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

(a) Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, at any time after the Distribution Date the registered holder of any Rights Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided herein including the restrictions on exercisability set forth in Section 9(c), Section 11(a)(iii) and Section 23(a) hereof) in whole or in part upon surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate on the reverse side thereof properly completed and duly executed, to the Rights Agent at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, together with payment of the aggregate Purchase Price with respect to the total number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as to which such surrendered Rights are then exercisable, and an amount equal to any tax or charge required to be paid under Section 9(e) hereof, at or prior to the earliest of (i) 5:00 P.M., New York, New York time, on June 28, 2017, or such later date as may be established by the Board prior to the expiration of the Rights (such date, as it may be extended by the Board, the “Final Expiration Date”), (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof or (iii) the time at which the Rights are exchanged as provided in Section 24 hereof (the earliest of (i), (ii) and (iii) being herein referred to as the “Expiration Date”).

(b) The Purchase Price for each one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Right initially shall be $9.00 and shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Section 11 and Section 13(a) hereof and shall be payable in accordance with paragraph (c) below.

(c) Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate properly completed and duly executed, accompanied by payment, with respect to each Right so exercised, of the Purchase Price per one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (or other shares, securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) to be purchased as set forth below and an amount equal to any tax or charge required to be paid under Section 9(e) hereof, the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 7(f) and Section 20(k) hereof, thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer agent of the shares of Preferred Stock (or make available, if the Rights Agent is the transfer agent for such shares) certificates for the total number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock to be purchased and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes each such transfer agent to comply with all such requests, or (B) if the Company shall have elected to deposit the total number of shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights hereunder with a depositary agent, requisition from the depositary agent depositary receipts representing such number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock as are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the shares of Preferred Stock represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent with the depositary agent) and the Company hereby directs each such depositary agent to comply with such request, (ii) when necessary to comply with this Agreement, requisition from the Company the amount of cash, if any, to be paid in lieu of the 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 Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such holder, and (iv) when necessary to comply with this Agreement, after receipt thereof, deliver such cash, if any, to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate. The payment of the Purchase Price (as such amount may be reduced pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof) and an amount equal to any tax or





charge required to be paid under Section 9(e) hereof, shall be made in cash or by certified bank check or bank draft payable to the order of the Company. In the event that the Company is obligated to issue other securities (including Common Stock) of the Company, pay cash and/or distribute other property pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the Company will make all arrangements necessary so that such other securities, cash and/or other property are available for distribution by the Rights Agent, if and when necessary to comply with this Agreement. The Company reserves the right to require prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event that, upon any exercise of Rights, a number of Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred Stock would be issued.

(d) In case the registered holder of any Rights Certificate shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Rights Certificate evidencing the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent and, if requested and provided with all necessary information and documents by the registered holder of Rights Certificates, delivered to, or upon the order of, the registered holder of such Rights Certificate or to its duly authorized assigns, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such holder, subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof.

(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from and after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, any Rights beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person; (ii) any Person with whom such Acquiring Person is Acting in Concert (or any Associate or Affiliate thereof); (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person or of any Person Acting in Concert with such Acquiring Person (or any Associate or Affiliate thereof)) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such, or (iv) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person or of any Person Acting in Concert with such Acquiring Person (or any Associate or Affiliate thereof)) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person (or any such other Person) to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person (or any such other Person) or to any Person with whom the Acquiring Person (or any such other Person) has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer that the Board has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding that has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this Section 7(e), shall be null and void without any further action and no holder of such Rights shall have any rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights, or any Rights Certificate which formerly evidenced such Rights, whether under any provision of this Agreement or otherwise. No Rights Certificate shall be issued that represents Rights beneficially owned by a Person whose Rights would be null and void pursuant to the preceding sentence; no Rights Certificate shall be issued at any time upon the transfer of any Rights to a Person whose Rights would be null and void pursuant to the preceding sentence or to any nominee of such Person; and any Rights Certificate delivered to the Rights Agent for transfer to an Acquiring Person or other Person whose Rights would be void pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be cancelled; provided, however , that the preceding sentence rendering certain Rights null and void shall be operative whether or not Rights Certificates are issued or transferred to a Person that should not receive such Rights Certificates pursuant to this sentence. The Company shall notify the Rights Agent when this Section 7(e) applies and shall use all reasonable efforts to ensure that the provisions of this Section 7(e) are complied with, but neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability or obligation to any holder of Rights Certificates 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, Associates , Persons Acting in Concert (or Affiliates or Associates thereof) or their respective transferees hereunder. Until such notice is received by the Rights Agent, the Rights Agent shall have no duties, responsibilities or obligations with respect to this Section 7(e).

(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to undertake any action with respect to a registered holder 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 executed the certificate contained in the form of election to purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate surrendered for such exercise, and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof or Persons Acting in Concert therewith as the Company or the Rights Agent shall reasonably request.

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

Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock .

(a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock and/or other securities or out of its authorized and issued shares held in its treasury), the number of shares of Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other securities) that, as provided in this Agreement including Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights.

(b) So long as the shares of Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other securities) issuable and deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights may be listed on any national securities exchange, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause, from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable (but only to the extent that it is reasonably likely that the Rights will be exercised), all shares reserved for such issuance to be listed on such exchange upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.

(c) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as soon as practicable following the earliest date after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event on which the consideration to be delivered by the Company upon exercise of the Rights has been determined in accordance with Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, a registration statement under the Act, with respect to the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, (ii) cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing, and (iii) cause such registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Act) until the earlier of (A) the date as of which the Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities, and (B) the Expiration Date. The Company will also take such action as may be appropriate under, or to ensure compliance with, the securities or “blue sky” laws of the various states in connection with the exercisability of the Rights. The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to exceed 120 days after the date set forth in clause (i) of the first sentence of this Section 9(c), the exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and file such registration statement and permit it to become effective. Upon any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement at such time as the suspension has been rescinded. In addition, if the Company shall determine that a registration statement is required following the Distribution Date, the Company may temporarily suspend the exercisability of the Rights until such time as a registration statement





has been declared effective. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction if the requisite qualification in such jurisdiction shall not have been obtained, the exercise thereof shall not be permitted under applicable law, or a registration statement in respect thereof shall not have been declared effective. The Company shall promptly notify the Rights Agent in writing after it makes a public announcement pursuant to this Section 9(c) and furnish the Rights Agent with a copy of such announcement(s).

(d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action as may be necessary to ensure that all one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other securities) delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for such shares (subject to payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and nonassessable.

(e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when due and payable any and all taxes and charges that may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Rights Certificates and of any certificates for a number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be required to (i) pay any tax or charge that may be payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates to a Person other than, or the issuance or delivery of a number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) in respect of a name other than that of the registered holder of the Rights Certificates evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise, or (ii) issue or deliver any certificates for a number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) in a name other than that of the registered holder upon the exercise of any Rights until such tax or charge shall have been paid (any such tax or charge being payable by the holder of such Rights Certificates at the time of surrender) or until it has been established to the Company’s or the Rights Agent’s satisfaction that no such tax or charge is due.

Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date . Each Person in whose name any certificate evidencing a number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock 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 such fractional shares of Preferred Stock (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 Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price (and all applicable taxes and charges) was duly made; provided , however , that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Preferred Stock (or Common Stock 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 (fractional or otherwise) on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the Preferred Stock (or Common Stock 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 Rights Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to shares for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including the right to vote, to receive dividends or other distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except as expressly provided herein.

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

(a) (i)      In the event the Company shall at any time after the date of this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred Stock payable in shares of Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide or split the





outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, (C) combine or consolidate the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock into a smaller number of shares, through a reverse stock split or otherwise, or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Preferred Stock (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a) and Section 7(e) hereof, the Purchase Price in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or of the effective date of such subdivision, split, combination, consolidation or reclassification, and the number and kind of shares of Preferred Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, issuable on such date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised after such time shall be entitled to receive, upon payment of the Purchase Price then in effect, the aggregate number and kind of shares of Preferred Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, that, if such Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date and at a time when the Preferred Stock transfer books of the Company were open, such holder would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, split, combination, consolidation or reclassification. If an event occurs that would require an adjustment under both this Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the adjustment provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

(ii)     Subject to Section 23 and Section 24 hereof, in the event that any Person shall, at any time after the Rights Dividend Declaration Date, become an Acquiring Person, unless the event causing such Person to become an Acquiring Person is a transaction set forth in Section 13(a) hereof, then, promptly following the occurrence of such event, proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right (except as provided below and in Section 7(e) hereof) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, in lieu of a number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock, such number of shares of Common Stock as shall equal the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then-current Purchase Price by the then number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, and (y) dividing that product (which, following such first occurrence, shall thereafter be referred to as the “Purchase Price” for each Right and for all purposes of this Agreement) by fifty percent (50%) of the Current Market Price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Common Stock on the date of such first occurrence (such number of shares, the “Adjustment Shares”). The Company shall provide the Rights Agent with written notice of the identity of any Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate or Person Acting in Concert (or Associates or Affiliates thereof), or the nominee of any of the foregoing, but neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability or obligation to any holder of Rights Certificates 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, Associates , Persons Acting in Concert (or Affiliates or Associates thereof) or their nominees hereunder. 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 Person Acting in Concert (or Associates or Affiliates thereof), or the nominee of any of the foregoing unless and until it shall have received such notice.

(iii)    In the event that the number of shares of Common Stock authorized by the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as may be amended from time to time, but not outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights, is not sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii) of this Section 11(a), the Company shall (A) determine the value of the Adjustment Shares issuable upon the exercise of a Right (the “Current Value”), and (B) with respect to each Right (subject to Section 7(e) hereof), make adequate provision to substitute for the Adjustment Shares, upon the exercise of a Right and payment of the applicable Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (3) Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company (including shares, or units of shares, of preferred stock, such as the Preferred Stock, that the Board has deemed to have essentially the same value or economic rights as shares of Common Stock (such equity securities being referred to herein





as “Common Stock Equivalents”)), (4) debt securities of the Company, (5) other assets, or (6) any combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value equal to the Current Value (less the amount of any reduction in the Purchase Price), where such aggregate value has been determined by the Board based upon the advice of a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board; provided , however , that if the Company shall not have made adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above within thirty (30) days following the later of (x) the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event and (y) the date on which the Company’s right of redemption pursuant to Section 23(a) expires (the later of (x) and (y) being referred to herein as the “Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date”), then the Company shall be obligated to deliver, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and without requiring payment of the Purchase Price, shares of Common Stock (to the extent available) and then, if necessary, cash, which shares and/or cash have an aggregate value equal to the Spread. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term “Spread” shall mean the excess of (i) the Current Value over (ii) the Purchase Price. If the Board determines in good faith that it is likely that sufficient additional shares of Common Stock could be authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights, the thirty (30) day period set forth above may be extended to the extent necessary, but not more than ninety (90) days after the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date, in order that the Company may seek stockholder approval for the authorization of such additional shares (such thirty (30) day period, as it may be extended, is herein called the “Substitution Period”). To the extent that the Company determines that action should be taken pursuant to the first and/or third sentences of this Section 11(a)(iii), the Company (1) shall provide, subject to Section 7(e) hereof, that such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights, and (2) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights until the expiration of the Substitution Period in order to seek such stockholder approval for such authorization of additional shares and/or to decide the appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to such first sentence and to determine the value thereof. In the event of any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement (with prompt written notice thereof to the Rights Agent) stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement (with prompt written notice thereof to the Rights Agent) 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 Market Price per share of Common Stock on the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date and the per share or per unit value of any Common Stock Equivalent shall be deemed to equal the Current Market Price per share of Common Stock on such date.

(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of shares of Preferred Stock entitling them to subscribe for or purchase (for a period expiring within forty-five (45) calendar days after such record date) shares of Preferred Stock (or shares having the same rights, privileges and preferences as the shares of Preferred Stock (“Equivalent Preferred Stock”)) or securities convertible into Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred Stock at a price per share of Preferred Stock or per share of Equivalent Preferred Stock (or having a conversion price per share, if a security convertible into Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred Stock) less than the Current Market Price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Preferred Stock on such record date, the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the number of shares of Preferred Stock that the aggregate offering price of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock and/or Equivalent Preferred Stock to be so offered (and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities to be so offered) would purchase at such Current Market Price, and the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the number of additional shares of Preferred Stock and/or Equivalent Preferred Stock to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities to be so offered are initially convertible). In case such subscription price may be paid by delivery of consideration, part or all of which may be in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the Board, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent that shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights. Shares of Preferred Stock owned by or held for the account of the Company shall not be





deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that such rights or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price that would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.

(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for a distribution to all holders of shares of Preferred Stock (including any such distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) of cash (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend out of the earnings or retained earnings of the Company), assets (other than a dividend payable in Preferred Stock, but including any dividend payable in stock other than Preferred Stock) or evidences of indebtedness, or of subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b) hereof), the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the Current Market Price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Preferred Stock on such record date, less the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board, whose determination shall be described in a written statement filed with the Rights Agent that shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights) of the portion of the cash, assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants applicable to a share of Preferred Stock, and the denominator of which shall be such Current Market Price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Preferred Stock. Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that such distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price that would have been in effect if such record date had not been fixed.

(d) (i)      For the purpose of any computation hereunder, other than computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the “Current Market Price” per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of such Common Stock for the thirty (30) consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to but not including such date, and for purposes of computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the Current Market Price per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of such Common Stock for the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days immediately following but not including such date; provided , however , that in the event that the Current Market Price per share of Common Stock is determined during a period following the announcement by the issuer of such Common Stock of (A) a dividend or distribution on such Common Stock payable in shares of such Common Stock or securities convertible into shares of such Common Stock (other than the Rights), or (B) any subdivision, combination, consolidation, reverse stock split or reclassification of such Common Stock, and the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or the record date for such subdivision, combination, consolidation, reverse stock split or reclassification shall not have occurred prior to the commencement of the requisite thirty (30) Trading Day or ten (10) Trading Day period, as set forth above, then, and in each such case, the Current Market Price shall be properly adjusted to take into account ex-dividend trading. The closing price for each day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) or, if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on the NYSE, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading or, if on any such date the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations System (“NASDAQ”) or such other system then in use, or, if on any such date the shares of Common Stock are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Common Stock selected by the Board. If on any such date





no market maker is making a market in the Common Stock, the fair value of such shares on such date as determined in good faith by the Board shall be used. The term “Trading Day” shall mean a day on which the principal national securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day. If the Common Stock is not publicly held or not so listed or traded, the Current Market Price per share shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board, whose determination shall be described in a written statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights.

(ii)    For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the “Current Market Price” per share of Preferred Stock shall be determined in the same manner as set forth above for the Common Stock in clause (i) of this Section 11(d) (other than the last sentence thereof). If the Current Market Price per share of Preferred Stock cannot be determined in the manner provided above or if the Preferred Stock is not publicly held or listed or traded in a manner described in clause (i) of this Section 11(d), the Current Market Price per share of Preferred Stock shall be conclusively deemed to be an amount equal to 1,000 (as such number may be appropriately adjusted for such events as stock splits, stock dividends and recapitalizations with respect to the Common Stock occurring after the date of this Agreement) multiplied by the Current Market Price per share of Common Stock. If neither the Common Stock nor the Preferred Stock is publicly held or so listed or traded, Current Market Price per share of the Preferred Stock shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights.

(e) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least one percent (1%) in the Purchase Price; provided , however , that any adjustments that by reason of this Section 11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest ten-thousandth of a share of Common Stock or other share or one-millionth of a share of Preferred Stock, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e), any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier of (i) three (3) years from the date of the transaction that mandates such adjustment, or (ii) the Expiration Date.

(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) or Section 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock other than Preferred Stock, thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of any Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the Preferred Stock contained in Sections 11(a), (b), (c), (e), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k) and (m), and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 hereof with respect to the Preferred Stock shall apply on like terms to any such other shares.

(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock 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) hereof, 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-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (calculated to the nearest one-millionth) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of one one-thousandths 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.

(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in lieu of any adjustment in the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock purchasable upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after the adjustment in the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest one ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The Company shall make a public announcement (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 Rights Certificates have been issued, shall be at least ten (10) days later than the date of the public announcement. If Rights Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of Rights Certificates on such record date Rights Certificates evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement for the Rights Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such adjustment. Rights Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner provided for herein (and may bear, at the option of the Company, the adjusted Purchase Price) and shall be registered in the names of the holders of record of Rights Certificates on the record date specified in the public announcement.

(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express the Purchase Price per one one-thousandth of a share and the number of one one-thousandth of a share that were expressed in the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.

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

(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a specified event, the Company may elect to defer (with prompt written notice thereof to the Rights Agent) until the occurrence of such event the issuance to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided , however , that the Company shall deliver to such holder a due bill or other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder’s





right to receive such additional shares (fractional or otherwise) or securities upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.

(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Purchase Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, as and to the extent that in its good faith judgment the Board shall determine to be advisable in order that any (i) consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred Stock, (ii) issuance wholly for cash of any shares of Preferred Stock at less than the Current Market Price, (iii) issuance wholly for cash of shares of Preferred Stock or securities that by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Preferred Stock, (iv) stock dividends or (v) issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to in this Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Preferred Stock shall not be taxable to such stockholders.

(n) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any time after the Distribution Date, (i) consolidate with any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that complies with Section 11(o) hereof), (ii) merge with or into any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or (iii) sell or transfer (or permit any Subsidiary to sell or transfer), in one transaction, or a series of related transactions, assets, cash flow or earning power aggregating more than fifty percent (50%) of the assets, cash flow or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), if (x) at the time of or immediately after such consolidation, merger or sale there are any rights, warrants or other instruments or securities outstanding or agreements in effect which would substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights, or (y) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after such consolidation, merger or sale, the stockholders of the Person who constitutes, or would constitute, the “Principal Party” for purposes of Section 13(a) hereof shall have received a distribution of Rights previously owned by such Person or any of its Affiliates and Associates.

(o) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the Distribution Date, it will not, except as permitted by Section 23, Section 24 or Section 27 hereof, take (or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action if at the time such action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action will diminish substantially or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.

(p) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event that the Company shall at any time after the Rights Dividend Declaration Date and prior to the Distribution Date (i) declare a dividend on the outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, the number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock then outstanding, or issued or delivered thereafter but prior to the Distribution Date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the number of Rights thereafter associated with each share of Common Stock following any such event shall equal the result obtained by multiplying the number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock immediately prior to such event by a fraction the numerator which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence of the event and the denominator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately following the occurrence of such event.

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 and Section 13 hereof, the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment or describing such event, and a brief statement of the facts, computations and methodology accounting for such adjustment or event, (b) promptly file with the





Rights Agent, and with each transfer agent for the Preferred Stock and the Common Stock, a copy of such certificate, and (c) if a Distribution Date has occurred, mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Rights Certificate in accordance with Section 25 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the failure of the Company to make such certification or give such notice shall not affect the validity of such adjustment or the force or effect of the requirement for such adjustment. 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. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets, Cash Flow or Earning Power .

(a) In the event that, following the Stock Acquisition Date, directly or indirectly, (x) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and into, any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that complies with Section 11(o) hereof), and the Company shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger, (y) any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that complies with Section 11(o) hereof) shall consolidate with, or merge with or into, the Company, and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger and, in connection with such consolidation or merger, all or part of the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other Person or cash or any other property, or (z) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, assets, cash flow or earning power aggregating more than fifty percent (50%) of the assets, cash flow or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any Person or Persons (other than the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in one or more transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that: (i) each holder of a Right, except as provided in Section 7(e) hereof, shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such number of validly authorized and issued, fully paid, nonassessable and freely tradeable shares of Common Stock of the Principal Party, not subject to any liens, encumbrances, rights of first refusal or other adverse claims, as shall be equal to the result obtained by (1) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right is exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event (or, if a Section 11(a)(ii) Event has occurred prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, multiplying the number of such one one-thousandths of a share for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event by the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event), and (2) dividing that product (which, following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, shall be referred to as the “Purchase Price” for each Right and for all purposes of this Agreement) by 50% of the Current Market Price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) hereof) per share of the Common Stock of such Principal Party on the date of consummation of such Section 13 Event; (ii) such Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such Section 13 Event, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) the term “Company” shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal Party, it being specifically intended that the provisions of Section 11 hereof shall apply only to such Principal Party following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event; (iv) such Principal Party shall take such steps (including the reservation of a sufficient number of shares of its Common Stock) in connection with the consummation of any such transaction as may be necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to its shares of Common Stock thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights; and (v) the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall be of no effect following the first occurrence of any Section 13 Event.








(b) “Principal Party” shall mean:

(i) in the case of any transaction described in clause (x) or (y) of the first sentence of Section 13(a) hereof, the Person that is the issuer of any securities into which shares of Common Stock of the Company are converted in such merger or consolidation, and if no securities are so issued, the Person that is the other party to such merger or consolidation; an

(ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause (z) of the first sentence of Section 13(a) hereof, the Person that is the party receiving the greatest portion of the assets, cash flow or earning power transferred pursuant to such transaction or transactions;

provided , however , that in any such case, (1) if the Common Stock of such Person is not at such time and has not been continuously over the preceding twelve (12) month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and such Person is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person the Common Stock of which is and has been so registered, “Principal Party” shall refer to such other Person; and (2) in case such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than one Person, the Common Stock of two or more of which are and have been so registered, “Principal Party” shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the issuer of the Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market value.
(c)    The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer unless the Principal Party shall have a sufficient number of authorized shares of its Common Stock that have not been issued or reserved for issuance to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with this Section 13 and unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing for the terms set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 13 and further providing that, as soon as practicable after the date of any consolidation, merger or sale of assets mentioned in paragraph (a) of this Section 13, the Principal Party will:

(i)    prepare and file a registration statement under the Act, with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, and will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to (A) become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and (B) remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Act) until the Expiration Date;

(ii)    take all such other action as may be necessary to enable the Principal Party to issue the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights, including the registration or qualification of such securities under all requisite securities laws of jurisdictions of the various states and the listing of such securities on such exchanges and trading markets as may be necessary or appropriate; and

(iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial statements for the Principal Party and each of its Affiliates that comply in all respects with the requirements for registration on Form 10 (or any successor form) under the Exchange Act.

The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers. In the event that a Section 13 Event shall occur at any time after the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the Rights which have not theretofore been exercised shall thereafter become exercisable in the manner described in Section 13(a).







Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares

(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights, except prior to the Distribution Date as provided in Section 11(p) hereof, or to distribute Rights Certificates that evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of such fractional Rights, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole Right. For purposes of this Section 14(a), the current market value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would have been otherwise issuable. The closing price of the Rights for any Trading 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 NYSE or, if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on the NYSE, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the Rights are listed or admitted to trading, or if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by NASDAQ or such other system then in use or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Rights, selected by the Board. If on any such date no such market maker is making a market in the Rights, the fair value of the Rights on such date as determined in good faith by the Board shall be used.

(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates that evidence fractional shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions that are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock). In lieu of the issuance of fractional shares of Preferred Stock that are not integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock, the Company may pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market value of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock shall be one one-thousandth of the closing price of a share of Preferred Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(ii) hereof) on the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise.

(c) Following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, the Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates that evidence fractional shares of Common Stock. In lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock, the Company may pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of one (1) share of Common Stock. For purposes of this Section 14(c), the current market value of one share of Common Stock shall be the closing price per share of Common Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) hereof) on the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise.

(d) Whenever a payment for fractional Rights or any fractional shares is to be made by the Rights Agent, 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.

(e) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Rights expressly waives such holder’s right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional shares upon exercise of a Right, except as permitted by this Section 14.

Section 15. Rights of Action . All rights of action in respect of this Agreement, other than 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 Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the Common Stock); and any registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), may, in such holder’s own behalf and for such holder’s own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, such holder’s right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate in the manner provided in such Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement and shall be entitled to specific performance of the obligations hereunder and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations of the obligations hereunder of any Person subject to this Agreement.

Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders . Every holder of a Right by accepting the same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and with every other holder of a Right that:

(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of shares of Common Stock;

(b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purposes, properly executed and duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer and with the appropriate forms and certificates duly executed;

(c) subject to Section 6(a) and Section 7(f) hereof, the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the Person in whose name a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common Stock certificate (or book entry shares in respect of Common Stock)) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the Rights Certificates or the associated Common Stock certificate (or notices provided to holders of book entry shares of Common Stock) made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent, subject to the last sentence of Section 7(e) hereof, shall be required to be affected by any notice to the contrary; and

(d) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to any holder of a Right or other Person as a result of its inability to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or permanent injunction or other order, judgment, decree or ruling (whether interlocutory or final) issued by a court of competent jurisdiction 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 , the Company shall use its best efforts to have any such injunction, order, judgment, decree or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned as soon as possible.





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

Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent

(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and disbursements and other disbursements incurred in the preparation, negotiation, 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 (each as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction), for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance, administration, exercise and performance of its duties under this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending against any claim of liability and the costs and expenses of enforcing this right of indemnification. The provisions of this Section 18 and Section 20 hereof 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 Rights Certificate or certificate for Common Stock or for other securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement, or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons, or otherwise upon the advice of counsel as set forth in Section 20 hereof. The Rights Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any event of which it was supposed to receive notice thereof hereunder, and the Rights Agent shall be fully protected and shall incur no liability for failing to take any action in connection therewith, unless and until it has received such notice.

(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in no event will the Rights Agent be liable for special, indirect or consequential 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 and regardless of the form of action.

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,





stock transfer or corporate trust business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto; but only if such Person would be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21 hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this Agreement, any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of a predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned, and if at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the predecessor or in the name of the successor Rights Agent. In all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.

(b) If at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed and at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and if at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name. In all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights 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) upon the following terms and conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:

(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal counsel for the Company 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 as to, and the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or in respect of, any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in the absence of gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct (which gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct must be determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction) 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 any Acquiring Person and the determination of Current Market Price) 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 the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the President, any Senior Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent, and such certificate shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent for, and the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or in respect of, any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in the absence of gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct (which gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct must be determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction) under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.

(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its and its directors’, officers’, employees’ and representatives’ 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).






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

(e) The Rights Agent shall not 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 Rights Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Rights Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any change in the exercisability of the Rights (including the Rights becoming null and void pursuant to Section 11 hereof) or any change or adjustment in the terms of the Rights required under the provisions of Sections 3, 11, 23 or 24 hereof (provided, that the foregoing does not nullify any express duties the Rights Agent may have in such Sections herein) or responsible for the manner, method or amount thereof or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such change or adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Rights Certificates after receipt 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 shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights Certificate or as to whether any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock will, when so issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

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

(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the President, any Senior Vice President, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and 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 good faith in accordance with instructions of any such officer or for any delay in acting while waiting for those instructions. The Rights Agent shall be fully authorized and protected in relying upon the most recent instructions received by any such officer. Any application by the Rights Agent for written instructions from the Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken, suffered or omitted by the Rights Agent under this Agreement and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or suffered or such omission shall be effective. The Rights Agent shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in accordance with a proposal included in any such application on or after the date specified in such application (which date shall not be less than five (5) Business Days after the date any officer of the Company actually receives such application, unless any such officer shall have consented in writing to an earlier date) unless, prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of an omission), the Rights Agent shall have received written instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken, suffered or omitted.

(h) 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 stockholder, affiliate, director, officer or employee of the Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other Person.

(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself (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, bad faith or willful misconduct in the selection and continued employment thereof (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).

(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder (other than internal costs incurred by the Rights Agent in providing services to the Company in the ordinary course of its business as Rights Agent) or in the exercise of its rights if it reasonably believes, after consultation with counsel, that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

(k) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form of assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has either not been completed or indicates an affirmative response to clause 1 and/or 2 thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such requested exercise or transfer without first consulting with the Company.

Section 21. Change of Rights Agent . The Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement upon thirty (30) days’ notice in writing mailed to the Company, and in the event that the Rights Agent or one or more of its Affiliates is not also the transfer agent for the Company, to each transfer agent of the Common Stock and Preferred Stock, by registered or certified 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. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon thirty (30) days’ notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock and Preferred Stock, by registered or certified mail, and, if such removal occurs after the Distribution Date, to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Rights Certificate (which holder shall, with such notice, submit such holder’s Rights Certificate for inspection by the Company), then any registered holder of any Rights Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be (a) a Person organized and doing business in good standing under the laws of the United States or of the State of New York or of any other state of the United States, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust, stock transfer or stockholder services powers and which has at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 or (b) an Affiliate of a Person described in clause (a) of this sentence. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed, and the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute





and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment, the Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock, and, if such appointment occurs after the Distribution Date, mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates. Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.

Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates . Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as may be approved by the Board to reflect any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other securities or property purchasable under the Rights Certificates made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection with the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock following the Distribution Date and prior to the redemption, exchange or expiration of the Rights, the Company (a) shall, with respect to shares of Common Stock so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under any employee benefit plan or arrangement, granted or awarded as of the Distribution Date, or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of securities hereinafter issued by the Company (except as may otherwise be provided in the instrument(s) governing such securities), and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board, issue Rights Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale; provided , however , that (i) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, the Company shall be advised by counsel that such issuance would create a significant risk of material adverse tax consequences to the Company or the Person to whom such Rights Certificate would be issued, and (ii) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.

Section 23. Redemption and Termination

(a) The Board may, at its option, at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the close of business on the tenth (10th) Business Day following the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the Stock Acquisition Date shall have occurred prior to the Record Date, the close of business on the tenth (10th) Business Day following the Record Date), or (ii) the Final Expiration Date, redeem all but not less than all of the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $0.001 per Right, as such amount may be appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such redemption price being hereinafter referred to as the “Redemption Price”). 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 Stock (based on the Current Market Price of the Common Stock at the time of redemption) or any other form of consideration deemed appropriate by the Board.

(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board ordering the redemption of the Rights, and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price for each Right so held. Promptly after the action of the Board ordering the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall give notice of such redemption to the Rights Agent and the holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to all such holders at each holder’s last address as it appears upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common Stock. Any notice that 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. In any





case, failure to give such notice to any particular holder of Rights shall not affect the sufficiency of the notice to other holders of Rights.

(c) 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 or repurchase by any of them of Common Stock prior to the Distribution Date.

Section 24. Exchange

(a) The Board may, at its option, at any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, exchange all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become null and void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) for Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the “Exchange Ratio”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board shall not be empowered to effect such exchange at any time after any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any such Subsidiary, or any entity holding Common Stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan), together with all Affiliates and Associates of and Persons Acting in Concert with such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of fifty percent (50%) or more of the Common Stock then outstanding.

(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 24 and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such Rights shall be to receive that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of 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 of the holders of such Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice that 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 Stock for Rights will be effected and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights that will be exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the number of Rights (other than Rights that have become null and void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.

(c) Following the action of the Board ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 24, the Company may implement such procedures in its sole discretion as it deems appropriate for the purpose of ensuring that the Common Stock (or such other consideration) issuable upon an exchange pursuant to this Section 24 not be received by holders of Rights that have become null and void pursuant to Section 7(e) hereof. In furtherance thereof, if so directed by the Company, all or a portion of the shares of Common Stock (or other consideration) potentially issuable to holders of Rights upon an exchange pursuant to this Section 24, who have not verified to the satisfaction of the Company, in its sole discretion, that they are not Acquiring Persons (or Affiliates or Associates thereof or Persons Acting in Concert therewith or Affiliates or Associates of such Persons), may be deposited in a trust established by the Company pending receipt of appropriate verification.

(d) In any exchange pursuant to this Section 24, the Company, at its option, may substitute Preferred Stock (or Equivalent Preferred Stock) for Common Stock exchangeable for Rights, at the initial rate of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (or Equivalent Preferred Stock) for each share of Common





Stock, as appropriately adjusted to reflect stock splits, stock dividends and other similar transactions after the date hereof.

(e) In the event that there shall not be sufficient shares of Common Stock 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 shares of Common Stock for issuance upon exchange of the Rights.

(f) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of Common Stock or to distribute certificates that evidence fractional shares of Common Stock. In lieu of such fractional shares of Common Stock, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional shares of Common Stock would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole share of Common Stock. For the purposes of this subsection (f), the current market value of a whole share of Common Stock shall be the closing price of a share of Common Stock (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 Distribution Date, (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the holders of Preferred Stock or to make any other distribution to the holders of Preferred Stock (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend out of earnings or retained earnings of the Company), (ii) to offer to the holders of Preferred Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional shares of Preferred Stock or shares of stock of any class or any other securities, rights or options, (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Preferred Stock (other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding shares of Preferred Stock), (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger into or with any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or to effect any sale or other transfer (or to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale or other transfer), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of more than fifty percent (50%) of the assets, cash flow or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or (v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, then, in each such case, the Company shall give to the Rights Agent and to the extent feasible to each holder of a Rights Certificate, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which notice shall specify the record date for the purposes of such stock dividend, distribution of rights or warrants, or the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least twenty (20) days prior to but not including the record date for determining holders of the shares of Preferred Stock for purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at least twenty (20) days prior to but not including the date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock, whichever shall be the earlier.

(b) In the event that any Section 11(a)(ii) Event shall occur, (i) the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to the Rights Agent and to each holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible and in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event, which notice shall specify the event and the consequences of the event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, and (ii) all references in the preceding paragraph to Preferred Stock shall be deemed thereafter to refer to Common Stock





and/or, if appropriate, other securities. Until such notice is received by the Rights Agent, the Rights Agent may presume conclusively for all purposes that no such Section 11(a)(ii) Event has occurred.

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

Universal Technical Institute, Inc.
16220 North Scottsdale Road, Suite 100
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
Attention: Senior Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary
With a copy to:
Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
1 E. Washington St., Suite 2700
Phoenix, AZ 85004
Attention: Frank M. Placenti
Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, any notice or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Rights Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if in writing and sent or delivered by recognized national overnight delivery service or first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Rights Agent with the Company) as follows:
Computershare Inc.
480 Washington Boulevard
Jersey City, NJ 07310
Attention: Client Services
With a copy to:
Computershare Inc.
250 Royall Street
Canton, MA 02021
Attention: Legal Department

Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate (or, if prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder of certificates representing shares of Common Stock) shall be sufficiently given or made if in writing and sent or delivered by recognized national overnight delivery service or 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, this Agreement maybe supplemented or amended at the times and for the purposes set forth below. Prior to the Distribution Date, the Company and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend any provision of this Agreement without the approval of any holders of shares of Common Stock. From and after the Distribution





Date, the Company and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of Rights Certificates in order (i) to cure any ambiguity, (ii) to correct or supplement any provision contained herein that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, (iii) to shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder or (iv) to change or supplement the provisions hereunder in any manner that the Company may deem necessary or desirable and that shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights Certificates (other than a Person whose Rights have become null and void pursuant to Section 7(e) hereof). Upon the delivery of a certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company that states that the proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 27, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment; provided, that, the Rights Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any supplement or amendment that affects the Rights Agent’s own rights, duties, obligations or immunities under this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Agreement may not be amended (other than pursuant to clauses (i) or (ii) of the third sentence of this Section 27) at a time when the Rights are not redeemable.

Section 28.     Successors . All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.

Section 29.      Determinations and Actions by the Board, etc . For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of shares of Common Stock or any other class of capital stock outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of determining the particular percentage of such outstanding shares of Common Stock of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act. The Board shall have the exclusive power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically granted to the Board or to the Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this Agreement, and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this Agreement (including a determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to amend the Agreement). All such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations (including for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board in good faith, shall (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, or any of the directors on the Board to any liability to the holders of the Rights. The Rights Agent shall be entitled to assume the Board acted in good faith and shall be fully protected and incur no liability in the Rights Agent’s 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 Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, registered holders of the Common Stock) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement. This Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, registered holders of the Common Stock).

Section 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, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or restriction is held by such court or authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable and the Board determines in its good faith judgment that severing the invalid language from





this Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or effect of this Agreement, the right of redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof shall be reinstated and shall not expire until the close of business on the tenth (10th) Business Day following the date of such determination by the Board. Without limiting the foregoing, if any provision requiring a specific group of directors of the Company to act is held by any court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, such determination shall then be made by the Board in accordance with applicable law and the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, each as may be amended from time to time.

Section 32.      Governing Law . This Agreement, each Right and each Rights Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State.

Section 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 transmitted electronically shall have the same authority, effect and enforceability as an original signature.

Section 34.     Descriptive Headings; Interpretation

(a) 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.

(b) Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.”

Section 35.      Force Majeure . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Rights Agent shall not be liable for any delays or failures in performance resulting from acts beyond its reasonable control including acts of God, terrorist acts, shortage of supply, breakdowns or malfunctions, interruptions or malfunction of computer facilities, or loss of data due to power failures or mechanical difficulties with information storage or retrieval systems, labor difficulties, war or civil unrest.

[Signatures Follow]















IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed, all as of the day and year first above written.
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
 
COMPUTERSHARE INC.
By:
Name:
Title:









































Exhibit A
FORM OF
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION, PREFERENCES AND
RIGHTS OF SERIES E JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
of
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC.
Pursuant to Section 151 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
I, Kimberly J. McWaters, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Technical Institute, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (herein referred to as the “Company”), in accordance with the provisions of Section 103 thereof, DO HEREBY CERTIFY:
That pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors by the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of the Company (as may be amended from time to time, the “Certificate of Incorporation”), the said Board of Directors on June 29, 2016, adopted the following resolution creating a series of 100,000 shares of Preferred Stock designated as Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock:
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of Directors of the Company in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, a series of Preferred Stock of the Company be and it hereby is created, and that the designation and amount thereof and the voting powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of the shares of such series, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof are as follows:
Section 1.      Designation and Amount . The shares of such series shall be designated as “Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock” and the number of shares constituting such series shall be 100,000. Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors; provided, however , that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock to a number less than the number of shares then outstanding plus the number of shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon the exercise of any options, rights or warrants issuable upon conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the Company convertible into Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
Section 2.      Dividends and Distributions .
(A)      Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of any shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of common stock of the Company with $0.0001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), and of any other junior stock, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose, 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 E Junior Participating Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $1.00 or (b) subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, one thousand (1,000) times the





aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and one thousand (1,000) 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 E Junior Participating Preferred Stock. In the event the Company shall at any time after June 29, 2016 (the “Rights Dividend Declaration Date”), (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (b) of 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 Company shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock as provided in Paragraph (A) above immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock); provided that, in the event no dividend or distribution shall have been declared on the Common Stock during the period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $1.00 per share on the Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.
(C)      Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock, 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 E Junior Participating 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 E Junior Participating 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 E Junior Participating Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be no more than thirty (30) days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
Section 3.      Voting Rights . The holders of shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:
(A)      Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each share of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one thousand (1,000) votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Company. In the event the Company shall at any time after the Rights Dividend Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of Series E Junior Participating 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 herein or by law, the holders of shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Company.
(C)      (i) If at any time dividends on any Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall be in arrears in an amount equal to six (6) quarterly dividends thereon, the occurrence of such contingency shall mark the beginning of a period (herein called a “default period”) that shall extend until such time when all accrued and unpaid dividends for all previous quarterly dividend periods and for the current quarterly dividend period on all shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock then outstanding shall have been declared and paid or set apart for payment. During each default period, all holders of Preferred Stock (including holders of the Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock) with dividends in arrears in an amount equal to six (6) quarterly dividends (or, in the case of any other series of Preferred Stock outstanding, dividends in arrears as set forth in the Certificate of Designation for that series) thereon, voting as a class, irrespective of series, shall have the right to elect two (2) directors.
(ii) During any default period, such voting right of the holders of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock may be exercised initially at a special meeting called pursuant to subparagraph (iii) of this Section 3(C) or at any annual meeting of stockholders, and thereafter at annual meetings of stockholders, provided that neither such voting right nor the right of the holders of any other series of Preferred Stock, if any, to increase, in certain cases, the authorized number of directors shall be exercised unless the holders of at least ten percent (10%) in number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding shall be present in person or by proxy. The absence of a quorum of the holders of Common Stock shall not affect the exercise by the holders of Preferred Stock of such voting right. At any meeting at which the holders of Preferred Stock shall exercise such voting right initially during an existing default period, they shall have the right, voting as a class, to elect directors to fill such vacancies, if any, in the Board of Directors as may then exist up to two (2) directors or, if such right is exercised at an annual meeting, to elect two (2) directors. If the number which may be so elected at any special meeting does not amount to the required number, the holders of the Preferred Stock shall have the right to make such increase in the number of directors as shall be necessary to permit the election by them of the required number. After the holders of the Preferred Stock shall have exercised their right to elect directors in any default period and during the continuance of such period, the number of directors shall not be increased or decreased except by vote of the holders of Preferred Stock as herein provided or pursuant to the rights of any equity securities ranking senior to or pari passu with the Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
(iii) Unless the holders of Preferred Stock shall, during an existing default period, have previously exercised their right to elect directors, the Board of Directors may order, or any stockholder or stockholders owning in the aggregate not less than ten percent (10%) of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding, irrespective of series, may request, the calling of a special meeting of the holders of Preferred Stock, which meeting shall thereupon be called by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, a Senior Vice-President, a Vice-President or the Secretary of the Company. Notice of such meeting and of any annual meeting at which holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote pursuant to this Paragraph (C)(iii) shall be given to each holder of record of Preferred Stock by mailing a copy of such notice to such holder at such holder’s last address as the same appears on the books of the Company. Such meeting shall be called for a time not earlier than twenty (20) days and not later than sixty (60) days after such order or request or in default of the calling of such meeting within sixty (60) days after such order or request, such meeting may be called on similar notice by any stockholder or stockholders owning in the aggregate not less than ten percent (10%) of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Paragraph (C)(iii), no such special meeting shall be called during the period within sixty (60) days immediately preceding the date fixed for the next annual meeting of the stockholders.





(iv) In any default period, the holders of Common Stock, and other classes of stock of the Company if applicable, shall continue to be entitled to elect the whole number of directors until the holders of Preferred Stock shall have exercised their right to elect two (2) directors voting as a class, after the exercise of which right (x) the directors so elected by the holders of Preferred Stock shall continue in office until their successors shall have been elected by such holders or until the expiration of the default period, and (y) any vacancy in the Board of Directors may (except as provided in Paragraph (C)(ii) of this Section 3) be filled by vote of a majority of the remaining directors theretofore elected by the holders of the class of stock which elected the director whose office shall have become vacant. References in this Paragraph (C) to directors elected by the holders of a particular class of stock shall include directors elected by such directors to fill vacancies as provided in clause (y) of the foregoing sentence.
(v) Immediately upon the expiration of a default period, (x) the right of the holders of Preferred Stock as a class to elect directors shall cease, (y) the term of any directors elected by the holders of Preferred Stock as a class shall terminate, and (z) the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in the Certificate of Incorporation or the by-laws of the Company, as amended, irrespective of any increase made pursuant to the provisions of Paragraph (C)(ii) of this Section 3 (such number being subject, however, to change thereafter in any manner provided by law or in the Certificate of Incorporation or the by-laws of the Company, as amended). Any vacancies in the Board of Directors effected by the provisions of clauses (y) and (z) in the preceding sentence may be filled by a majority of the remaining directors.
(D)      Except as set forth herein, holders of Series E Junior Participating 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.
Section 4.      Certain Restrictions .
(A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions payable on the Series E Junior Participating 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 E Junior Participating Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Company shall not:
(i) declare or pay dividends on, make any other distributions on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends on 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 E Junior Participating Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series E Junior Participating 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 on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock, provided that the Company may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such parity stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Company ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock; or
(iv) purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on a parity with the Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as determined by the Board of





Directors) to all holders of such shares upon such terms as the Board of Directors, 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 Company shall not permit any subsidiary of the Company to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the Company unless the Company 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 E Junior Participating Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and cancelled 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 to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein.
Section 6.      Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up . (A) Upon any liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution or winding up of the Company, no distribution shall be made to the holders of shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall have received an amount equal to $1,000 per share of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment (the “Series E Liquidation Preference”). Following the payment of the full amount of the Series E Liquidation Preference, no additional distributions shall be made to the holders of shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall have received an amount per share (the “Common Adjustment”) equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the Series E Liquidation Preference by (ii) one thousand (1,000) (as appropriately adjusted as set forth in subparagraph (C) below to reflect such events as stock splits, stock dividends and recapitalizations with respect to the Common Stock) (such number in clause (ii), the “Adjustment Number”). Following the payment of the full amount of the Series E Liquidation Preference and the Common Adjustment in respect of all outstanding shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock and Common Stock, respectively, holders of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock and holders of shares of Common Stock shall receive their ratable and proportionate share of the remaining assets to be distributed in the ratio of the Adjustment Number to 1 with respect to such Preferred Stock and Common Stock, on a per share basis, respectively.
(B)      In the event, however, that there are not sufficient assets available to permit payment in full of the Series E Liquidation Preference and the liquidation preferences of all other series of preferred stock, if any, which rank on a parity with the Series E Junior Participating 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, however, that there are not sufficient assets available to permit payment in full of the Common Adjustment, then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders of Common Stock.
(C)      In the event the Company shall at any time after the Rights Dividend Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the Adjustment Number in effect immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such Adjustment 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.
Section 7.      Consolidation, Merger, etc . In case the Company 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 the shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed in an amount per share (subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal to one thousand (1,000) 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 Company shall at any time after the Rights Dividend Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of shares of Series E Junior Participating 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.      No Redemption . The shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable.
Section 9.      Ranking . The Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall rank junior to all other series of the Company’s Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, unless the terms of any such series shall provide otherwise.
Section 10.      Amendment . At any time when any shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock are outstanding, neither the Certificate of Incorporation nor this Certificate of Designation shall be amended in any manner that would materially alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the outstanding shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class.
Section 11.      Fractional Shares . Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock may be issued in fractions of a share which 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 E Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Universal Technical Institute, Inc. has caused this Certificate of Designation to be executed in its corporate name this 30 th day of June, 2016.
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC.
By: ________________________________
Name: Kimberly J. McWaters
Title: Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer















Exhibit B
[Form of Rights Certificate]
Certificate No. R-
________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER JUNE 28, 2017 OR SUCH EARLIER DATE AS THE RIGHTS ARE REDEEMED, EXCHANGED OR TERMINATED. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, AT $0.001 PER RIGHT, AND TO EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR ANY AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE THEREOF OR ANY PERSON WITH WHOM SUCH PERSON WAS OR IS ACTING IN CONVERT (OR ANY AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE THEREOF) (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID.
Rights Certificate
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, 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 Rights Agreement, dated as of June 29, 2016 (the “Rights Agreement”), between Universal Technical Institute, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Computershare Inc., a Delaware corporation, as rights agent (the “Rights Agent”), to purchase from the Company at any time prior to 5:00 P.M. (New York, New York time) on June 28, 2017, unless such date is extended prior thereto by the Board of Directors, and unless the Rights are earlier redeemed or exchanged, at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or its successors as Rights Agent, one one-thousandth of a fully paid, nonassessable share of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock”) of the Company, at a purchase price of $9.00 per one one-thousandth of a share (the “Purchase Price”), upon presentation and surrender of this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase and related Certificate duly executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number of shares which may be purchased upon exercise thereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price per share set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of June 29, 2016, based on the Preferred Stock as constituted at such date. The Company reserves the right to require prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) that a number of Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred Stock will be issued. Capitalized terms used in this Rights Certificate without definition shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Rights Agreement.
Upon the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, if the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person, (ii) any Person with whom such Acquiring Person is Acting in Concert (or any Associate or Affiliate thereof), (iii) a transferee of any such Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate or any Person Acting in Concert with such Acquiring Person (or any Associate or Affiliate thereof), or (iv) under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement, a transferee of a person who, after such transfer, became an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person or a Person Acting in Concert with an Acquiring Person (or any Associate or Affiliate thereof), such Rights shall be null and void and no holder hereof shall have any right with respect to such Rights from and after the occurrence of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event.
As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number and kind of shares of Preferred Stock or other securities that may be purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events, including Triggering Events.
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates, which limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement. Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the above-mentioned office of the Company and are also available upon written request to the Company.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates, upon surrender at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock as the Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase. If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate may be redeemed by the Company at its option at a redemption price of $0.001 per Right at any time prior to the





earlier of the close of business on (i) the tenth (10th) Business Day following the Stock Acquisition Date (as such time period may be extended pursuant to the Rights Agreement), and (ii) the Final Expiration Date. In addition, under certain circumstances after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, the Rights may be exchanged, in whole or in part, for shares of the Common Stock, or shares of preferred stock of the Company having essentially the same value or economic rights as such shares. Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company authorizing any such exchange, and without any further action or any notice, the Rights (other than Rights which are not subject to such exchange) will terminate and the Rights will only enable holders to receive the shares issuable upon such exchange.
No fractional shares of Preferred Stock will be issued upon the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement. The Company, at its election, may require that a number of Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred Stock would be issued.
No holder of this Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of shares of Preferred Stock or of any other securities of the Company that may at any time be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a 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 consent to or withhold consent from any corporate action, or, to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the signature of a proper officer of the Company.
Dated as of _______________ ____, 20___
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC.
By:
Name
Title













[Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Rights Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED ____________________________________ hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto ______________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address of transferee)
________________________________________________________________ this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint __________________ as attorney-in-fact, to transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the within named Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated _______________ ____, 20___
______________________________
Signature

Signature Guaranteed:
NOTICE: The signature(s) must be guaranteed by a participant in a Medallion Signature Guarantee Program at a guarantee level acceptable to the Company’s transfer agent.












Certificate
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) this Rights Certificate is is not being sold, assigned and transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person or a Person Acting in Concert with any such Acquiring Person (or any Associate or Affiliate thereof) (as such terms are defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it did did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person or a Person Acting in Concert with an Acquiring Person (or an Associate or Affiliate thereof).
Dated _____________ ____, 20___      ________________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
NOTICE: The signature(s) must be guaranteed by a participant in a Medallion Signature Guarantee Program at a guarantee level acceptable to the Company’s transfer agent.





















NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
In the event the certification set forth above is not completed in connection with a purported assignment, the Company may deem the Beneficial Owner of the Rights evidenced by the attached Rights Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof or a Person Acting in Concert therewith (or an Associate or Affiliate thereof) or a transferee of any of the foregoing and accordingly may deem the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate to be null and void and not transferable or exercisable.
The signature(s) must be guaranteed by a participant in a Medallion Signature Guarantee Program at a guarantee level acceptable to the Company’s transfer agent.

























FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise Rights represented by the Rights Certificate.)
To: UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC.
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise __________ Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights (or such other securities of the Company or of any other person which may be issuable upon the exercise of the Rights) and requests that certificates for such shares be issued in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number
    
(Please print name and address)
    
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance of such Rights shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number
    
(Please print name and address)
    
    
Dated _______________ ____, 20___
___________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
NOTICE: The signature(s) must be guaranteed by a participant in a Medallion Signature Guarantee Program at a guarantee level acceptable to the Company’s transfer agent.











Certificate
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are are not being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person or a Person Acting in Concert with any such Acquiring Person (or any Associate or Affiliate thereof) (as such terms are defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it did did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any Person who is, was or became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person or a Person Acting in Concert with an Acquiring Person (or an Associate or Affiliate thereof).
Dated _____________ ____, 20___ _______________________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:

NOTICE: The signature(s) must be guaranteed by a participant in a Medallion Signature Guarantee Program at a guarantee level acceptable to the Company’s transfer agent.





















NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Election to Purchase and Certificate must correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
In the event the certification set forth above is not completed in connection with a purported exercise, the Company may deem the Beneficial Owner of the Rights evidenced by the attached Rights Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof or a Person Acting in Concert therewith (or an Associate or Affiliate thereof) or a transferee of any of the foregoing and accordingly may deem the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate to be null and void and not transferable or exercisable.
The signature(s) must be guaranteed by a participant in a Medallion Signature Guarantee Program at a guarantee level acceptable to the Company’s transfer agent.







































Exhibit C
FORM OF
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
PREFERRED STOCK
On June 29, 2016, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (the “Company”), authorized and declared a dividend distribution of one right (a “Right”) for each outstanding share of the common stock of the Company with $0.0001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), to stockholders of record at the close of business on July 11, 2016 (the “Record Date”). Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company a unit consisting of one one-thousandth of a share (a “Unit”) of a newly authorized series of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock, of $0.0001 par value per share (the “Preferred Stock”), at a purchase price of $9.00 per Unit, subject to adjustment (the “Purchase Price”). The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement, dated as of June 29, 2016 (the “Rights Agreement”), between the Company and Computershare Inc., as Rights Agent.
Rights Certificates; Exercise Period .
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all shares of Common Stock then outstanding, and no separate rights certificates (“Rights Certificates”) will be distributed. Subject to certain exceptions specified in the Rights Agreement, the Rights will separate from the Common Stock and a distribution date (a “Distribution Date”) will occur upon the earlier of (i) ten (10) business days following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons or persons acting in concert with each other (an “Acquiring Person”) has acquired beneficial ownership of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the “Stock Acquisition Date”), other than as a result of (x) repurchases of stock by the Company, or (y) certain inadvertent actions by certain stockholders; and (ii) ten (10) business days (or such later date as the Board shall determine) following the commencement after the date of the Rights Agreement of a tender offer or exchange offer that, if consummated, would result in a person or group becoming an Acquiring Person. However, no person or group who, at the time of the first public announcement of the Rights Agreement, beneficially owned fifteen percent (15%) or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock will be deemed an Acquiring Person, unless and until such person or group acquires beneficial ownership of an additional 0.25% or more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock or such person or group reduces its ownership below and then later exceeds the fifteen percent (15%) threshold. For purposes of the Rights Agreement, beneficial ownership is defined to include (among other things) beneficial ownership as determined under Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as well as ownership of options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation rights, swap agreements or other securities, contract rights or derivative positions, whether or not presently exercisable. A person’s beneficially owned shares include shares beneficially owned by the person's affiliates and associates and persons with whom the person is acting in concert. For purposes of calculating the beneficial ownership of any Person under this Agreement, neither the numerator or denominator of such calculation shall include any shares of Series A Preferred Stock or the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of any Series A Preferred Stock that is then subject to the Investor Voting Cap (as such term is defined in the Certificate of Designations for the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock dated June 24, 2016, as such may be amended from time to time (“Certificate of Designations’). For purposes of determining whether any Person is an Exempt Person, a beneficial owner of Series A Preferred Stock at the Exempt Time shall be deemed to own all shares of Common Stock into which such Person’s Series A Preferred Stock may be converted (notwithstanding the Investor Voting Cap or the Conversion Cap, as defined in the Certificate of Designations) and such Person shall not become an Acquiring Person by virtue of either (i) the removal of Investor Voting Cap or the Conversion Cap in accordance with the





provisions of the Certificate of Designations; or (ii) conversion of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock following removal of the Conversion Cap in accordance with the Certificate of Designations.
Until a Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the certificates for the Common Stock (or, in the case of shares reflected on the direct registration system, by the notations in the book-entry account system) and will only be transferred with such Common Stock, (ii) new Common Stock certificates issued after the Record Date will contain a legend incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference and (iii) the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Stock outstanding will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates. Pursuant to the Rights Agreement, the Company reserves the right to require prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event (as defined below) that, upon any exercise of Rights, a number of Rights be exercised so that only (i) whole shares of Common Stock or (ii) whole shares of Preferred Stock and fractional shares of Preferred Stock that are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock will be issued.
The Rights are not exercisable until a Distribution Date and will expire at 5:00 P.M. (New York, New York time) on June 28, 2017, unless such date is extended or the Rights are earlier redeemed or exchanged.
As soon as practicable after a Distribution Date, Rights Certificates will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of the close of business on a Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate Rights Certificates alone will represent the Rights. Except as otherwise determined by the Board and in connection with certain employee benefit plan issuances, only shares of Common Stock issued prior to a Distribution Date will be issued with the Rights.
Flip-in Trigger .
In the event that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons or group of persons acting in concert with each other becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or other securities of the Company (including the Preferred Stock)) having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right. Notwithstanding the foregoing, following the occurrence of any of the events set forth in this paragraph, all Rights that are, or (under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) were, beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person will be null and void. However, Rights are not exercisable following the occurrence of the event set forth above until such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable by the Company as set forth below.
Flip-over Trigger .
In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition Date, (i) the Company engages in a merger or other business combination transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation, (ii) the Company engages in a merger or other business combination transaction in which the Company is the surviving corporation and the Common Stock of the Company is changed or exchanged, or (iii) fifty percent (50%) or more of the Company’s assets, cash flow or earning power is sold or transferred, each holder of a Right (except Rights which have previously been voided as set forth above) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, common stock of the acquiring company having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right. The events set forth in this paragraph and in the paragraph under the heading “Flip-in Trigger” are referred to as the “Triggering Events.”
Exchange Feature .
At any time after a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to the acquisition by such person or group of fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding Common Stock, the Board may exchange the





Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group that have become null and void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio (the “Exchange Ratio”) of one share of Common Stock, or one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (or of a share of a class or series of the Company’s preferred stock having equivalent rights, preferences and privileges), per Right (subject to adjustment). Immediately upon the action of the Board ordering the exchange of any Rights, the right to exercise such Rights will terminate and the only right thereafter of the holder of such Right will be to receive the Exchange Ratio.
Redemption Rights .
At any time until ten business days following the Stock Acquisition Date, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price (subject to adjustment) of $0.001 per Right (payable in cash, Common Stock or other consideration deemed appropriate by the Board). Immediately upon the action of the Board ordering redemption of the Rights, the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the $0.001 redemption price.
Equitable Adjustments .
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Units of Preferred Stock 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 dividend on the Preferred Stock payable in shares of Preferred Stock, a subdivision or split of outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, a combination or consolidation of Preferred Stock into a smaller number of shares through a reverse stock split or otherwise, or reclassification of the Preferred Stock, (ii) if holders of the Preferred Stock are granted certain rights, options or warrants to subscribe for Preferred Stock or convertible securities at less than the current market price of the Preferred Stock, or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Preferred Stock of cash (excluding regular quarterly cash dividends), assets, evidences of indebtedness 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 amount to at least one percent (1%) of the Purchase Price. No fractional Units will be issued and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the Preferred Stock on the last trading date prior to the date of exercise.
Amendment .
Prior to a Distribution Date, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended or supplemented by the Company (acting through the Board) and the Rights Agent without the approval of any holders of shares of Common Stock. After a Distribution Date, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended or supplemented by the Company (acting through the Board) and the Rights Agent, without the approval of any Rights holders, in order to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions of the Rights Agreement, to make changes that do not adversely affect the interests of holders of Rights, or to shorten or lengthen any time period under the Rights Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment may be made at such time as the Rights are not redeemable, except to cure any ambiguity or correct or supplement any provision contained in the Rights Agreement which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision therein.
Anti-Takeover Effects .
The Rights may have certain anti-takeover effects. The Rights may cause substantial dilution to any person or group that attempts to acquire the Company without the approval of the Board. As a result, the overall





effect of the Rights may be to render more difficult or discourage a merger, tender offer or other business combination involving the Company that is not supported by the Board.
Miscellaneous .
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no separate rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends in respect of the Rights. Although the distribution of the Rights will not be taxable to stockholders or to the Company, stockholders may, depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become exercisable for Common Stock (or other consideration) of the Company or for common stock of an acquiring company or in the event of the redemption of the Rights as set forth above.
A copy of the Rights Agreement has been or will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A or a Current Report on Form 8-K. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the Company. This summary description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is incorporated herein by reference.











Contact:                                            Exhibit 99.1

John Jenson         
Vice President, Corporate Controller     
Universal Technical Institute, Inc.     
(623) 445-0821

Universal Technical Institute Adopts Stockholder Rights Plan


SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. - June 30, 2016 - Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) (the “Company”), today announced that its Board of Directors has adopted a stockholder rights plan.  The rights plan, which has a term of 364 days, is designed to protect the interests of the Company’s stockholders.  The rights plan was adopted following evaluation and consultation with the Company’s outside advisors and is similar to plans adopted by numerous publicly traded companies.
Although not adopted in response to any particular threat or current effort to acquire control of the Company, the rights plan is intended to protect against untimely and uncoordinated change of control events and related adverse financial and regulatory consequences. Further, the rights plan specifically permits the conversion of the recently issued Series A Preferred Stock, subject to required regulatory and stockholder approvals, as described in the Certificate of Designation relating to such securities.
Additional information concerning the rights plan is available in the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 30, 2016.
The full text of the rights plan will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Universal Technical Institute, Inc.
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) is the leading provider of post-secondary education for students seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians. With more than 200,000 graduates in its 51-year history, UTI offers undergraduate degree and diploma programs at 12 campuses across the United States, as well as manufacturer-specific training programs at dedicated training centers. Through its campus-based school system, UTI provides specialized post-secondary education programs under the banner of several well-known brands, including Universal Technical Institute (UTI), Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and Marine Mechanics Institute (MMI) and NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech). For more information visit www.uti.edu .


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