<PAGE> 1
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OCTOBER 29, 1996
REGISTRATION NO. 333-
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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RATIONAL SOFTWARE CORPORATION
(FORMERLY VERDIX CORPORATION)
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
DELAWARE 54-1217099
(STATE OF INCORPORATION) (I.R.S. EMPLOYER (IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)
2800 SAN TOMAS EXPRESSWAY
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA 95051
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
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RATIONAL SOFTWARE CORPORATION 1994 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
(FULL TITLE OF THE PLAN)
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ROBERT T. BOND
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER,
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND SECRETARY
RATIONAL SOFTWARE CORPORATION
2800 SAN TOMAS EXPRESSWAY
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA 95051
(NAME AND ADDRESS OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
(408) 496-3600
(TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
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Copies to:
CRAIG H. FACTOR, ESQ.
WILSON, SONSINI, GOODRICH & ROSATI
650 PAGE MILL ROAD
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA 94304-1050
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2
<PAGE> 2
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
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TITLE OF PROPOSED MAXIMUM PROPOSED MAXIMUM
SECURITIES TO BE AMOUNT TO BE OFFERING PRICE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF
REGISTERED REGISTERED PER SHARE(1) OFFERING PRICE(1) REGISTRATION FEE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Common Stock,
$0.01 par value: 400,000 $32.75 $13,090,000 $3,966.67
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</TABLE>
(1) The proposed maximum offering price per share was estimated pursuant to
Rule 457(c) and 457(h) under the Securities Act. The Proposed Maximum
Offering Price Per Share was determined by reference to 85% of the
average of the high and the low prices reported in The Nasdaq Stock
Market on October 22, 1996, which average was $38.50.
3
<PAGE> 3
This Registration Statement on Form S-8 is being filed in order to
register 400,000 additional shares which have been reserved for the Rational
Software Corporation 1994 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 33-85906), as amended, is hereby
incorporated by reference.
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit Number
4.1 Rational Software Corporation 1994 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
5.1 Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati as to legality of securities
being registered.
23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors.
23.2 Consent of Counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1 Power of Attorney (contained on page II-1).
4
<PAGE> 4
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe
that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused
this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Santa Clara, State of California, on
October 29, 1996.
RATIONAL SOFTWARE CORPORATION
By: /s/ Robert T. Bond
-------------------------
Robert T. Bond
Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Chief
Financial Officer and Secretary
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL THESE PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose
signature appears below constitutes and appoints Paul D. Levy and Robert T. Bond
and each of them, jointly and severally, his attorneys-in-fact, each with full
power of substitution, for him in any and all capacities, to sign any and all
amendments to this Registration Statement on Form S-8 and to file the same, with
exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that
each said attorneys-in-fact or his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to
be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Date: October 29, 1996 /s/ Michael T. Devlin
----------------- ----------------------------------------------
Michael T. Devlin, President and
Director
Date: October 29, 1996 /s/ Paul D. Levy
----------------- ----------------------------------------------
Paul D. Levy, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer
Date: October 29, 1996 /s/ Robert T. Bond
----------------- ----------------------------------------------
Robert T. Bond, Senior Vice President
Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
Date: October 29, 1996 /s/ James S. Campbell
----------------- ----------------------------------------------
James S. Campbell, Director
Date:
----------------- ----------------------------------------------
Daniel H. Case III, Director
Date: October 29, 1996 /s/ Leslie G. Denend
----------------- ----------------------------------------------
Leslie G. Denend, Director
Date: October 29, 1996 /s/ John E. Montague
----------------- ----------------------------------------------
John E. Montague, Director
Date: October 29, 1996 /s/ Allison R. Schleicher
----------------- ----------------------------------------------
Allison R. Schleicher, Director
Date: October 29, 1996 /s/ Timothy A. Brennan
----------------- ----------------------------------------------
Timothy A. Brennan, Vice President,
Finance and Administration
(Principal Accounting Officer)
</TABLE>
II-1
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 4.1
<PAGE> 2
RATIONAL SOFTWARE CORPORATION
1994 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
The following constitute the provisions of the 1994 Employee Stock
Purchase Plan of Rational Software Corporation.
1. Purpose. The purpose of the Plan is to provide employees of the
Company and its Designated Subsidiaries with an opportunity to purchase Common
Stock of the Company through accumulated payroll deductions. It is the intention
of the Company to have the Plan qualify as an "Employee Stock Purchase Plan"
under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The
provisions of the Plan, accordingly, shall be construed so as to extend and
limit participation in a manner consistent with the requirements of that section
of the Code.
2. Definitions.
(a) "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
(b) "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.
(c) "Common Stock" shall mean the Common Stock of the Company.
(d) "Company" shall mean Rational Software Corporation and any
Designated Subsidiary of the Company.
(e) "Compensation" shall mean all base straight time gross
earnings, including commissions, but exclusive of payments for overtime, shift
premium, incentive compensation, incentive payments, bonuses, and other
compensation.
(f) "Designated Subsidiaries" shall mean the Subsidiaries which
have been designated by the Board from time to time in its sole discretion as
eligible to participate in the Plan.
(g) "Employee" shall mean any individual who is an Employee of
the Company for tax purposes whose customary employment with the Company is at
least twenty (20) hours per week and more than five (5) months in any calendar
year. For purposes of the Plan, the employment relationship shall be treated as
continuing intact while the individual is on sick leave or other leave of
absence approved by the Company. Where the period of leave exceeds 90 days and
the individual's right to reemployment is not guaranteed either by statute or by
contract, the employment relationship will be deemed to have terminated on the
91st day of such leave.
(h) "Enrollment Date" shall mean the first day of each Offering
Period.
(i) "Exercise Date" shall mean the last day of each Purchase
Period.
(j) "Fair Market Value" shall mean, as of any date, the value of
Common Stock determined as follows:
<PAGE> 3
(1) If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock
exchange or a national market system, including without limitation the National
Market System of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated
Quotation ("NASDAQ") System, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sale
price for the Common Stock (or the mean of the closing bid and asked prices, if
no sales were reported), as quoted on such exchange (or the exchange with the
greatest volume of trading in Common Stock) or system on the date of such
determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as
the Board deems reliable, or;
(2) If the Common Stock is quoted on the NASDAQ system (but
not on the National Market System thereof) or is regularly quoted by a
recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, its Fair
Market Value shall be the mean of the closing bid and asked prices for the
Common Stock on the date of such determination, as reported in The Wall Street
Journal or such other source as the Board deems reliable, or;
(3) In the absence of an established market for the Common
Stock, the Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined in good faith by the
Board.
(k) "Offering Period" shall mean the period of approximately
twenty-four (24) months during which an option granted pursuant to the Plan may
be exercised, commencing on the first Trading Day on or after November 1 and May
1 of each year and terminating on the last Trading Day in the periods ending
twenty-four months later. The duration and timing of Offering Periods may be
changed pursuant to Section 4 of this Plan.
(l) "Plan" shall mean this Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
(m) "Purchase Price" shall mean an amount equal to 85% of the
Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Enrollment Date or on the
Exercise Date, whichever is lower.
(n) "Purchase Period" shall mean the approximately six-month
period commencing after one Exercise Date and ending with the next Exercise
Date, except that the first Purchase Period of any Offering Period shall
commence on the Enrollment Date and end with the next Exercise Date.
(o) "Reserves" shall mean the number of shares of Common Stock
covered by each option under the Plan which have not yet been exercised and the
number of shares of Common Stock which have been authorized for issuance under
the Plan but not yet placed under option.
(p) "Subsidiary" shall mean a corporation, domestic or foreign,
of which not less than 50% of the voting shares are held by the Company or a
Subsidiary, whether or not such corporation now exists or is hereafter organized
or acquired by the Company or a Subsidiary.
(q) "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which national stock
exchanges and the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation
(NASDAQ) System are open for trading.
3. Eligibility.
(a) Any Employee (as defined in Section 2(g)), who shall be
employed by the Company on a given Enrollment Date shall be eligible to
participate in the Plan.
<PAGE> 4
(b) Any provisions of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding,
no Employee shall be granted an option under the Plan (i) if, immediately after
the grant, such Employee (or any other person whose stock would be attributed to
such Employee pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) would own capital stock of
the Company and/or hold outstanding options to purchase such stock possessing
five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all
classes of the capital stock of the Company or of any Subsidiary, or (ii) which
permits his or her rights to purchase stock under all employee stock purchase
plans of the Company and its subsidiaries to accrue at a rate which exceeds
twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) worth of stock (determined at the fair
market value of the shares at the time such option is granted) for each calendar
year in which such option is outstanding at any time.
4. Offering Periods. The Plan shall be implemented by consecutive,
overlapping Offering Periods with a new Offering Period commencing on the first
Trading Day on or after November 1 and May 1 each year, or on such other date as
the Board shall determine, and continuing thereafter until terminated in
accordance with Section 19 hereof. The Board shall have the power to change the
duration of Offering Periods (including the commencement dates thereof) with
respect to future offerings without shareholder approval if such change is
announced at least five (5) days prior to the scheduled beginning of the first
Offering Period to be affected thereafter.
5. Participation.
(a) An eligible Employee may become a participant in the Plan by
completing a subscription agreement authorizing payroll deductions in the form
of Exhibit A to this Plan and filing it with the Company's stock plan
administrator prior to the applicable Enrollment Date.
(b) Payroll deductions for a participant shall commence on the
first payroll following the Enrollment Date and shall end on the last payroll in
the Offering Period to which such authorization is applicable, unless sooner
terminated by the participant as provided in Section 10 hereof.
6. Payroll Deductions.
(a) At the time a participant files his or her subscription
agreement, he or she shall elect to have payroll deductions made on each pay day
during the Offering Period in an amount not exceeding ten percent (10%) of the
Compensation which he or she receives on each pay day during the Offering
Period, and the aggregate of such payroll deductions during the Offering Period
shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the participant's Compensation during said
Offering Period.
(b) All payroll deductions made for a participant shall be
credited to his or her account under the Plan and will be withheld in whole
percentages only. A participant may not make any additional payments into such
account.
(c) A participant may discontinue his or her participation in the
Plan as provided in Section 10 hereof, or may increase or decrease the rate of
his or her payroll deductions during the Offering Period by completing or filing
with the Company a new subscription agreement authorizing a change in payroll
deduction rate. The Board may, in its discretion, limit the number of
participation rate changes during any Offering Period. The change in rate shall
be effective with the first full payroll period following five (5) business days
after the Company's receipt of the new subscription agreement unless the Company
elects to process a given change in participation more quickly. A participant's
subscription agreement shall remain in effect for successive Offering Periods
unless terminated as provided in Section 10 hereof.
<PAGE> 5
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent necessary to
comply with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and Section 3(b) hereof, a
participant's payroll deductions may be decreased to 0% at such time during any
Purchase Period which is scheduled to end during the current calendar year (the
"Current Purchase Period") that the aggregate of all payroll deductions which
were previously used to purchase stock under the Plan in a prior Purchase Period
which ended during that calendar year plus all payroll deductions accumulated
with respect to the Current Purchase Period equal $21,250. Payroll deductions
shall recommence at the rate provided in such participant's subscription
agreement at the beginning of the first Purchase Period which is scheduled to
end in the following calendar year, unless terminated by the participant as
provided in Section 10 hereof.
(e) At the time the option is exercised, in whole or in part, or
at the time some or all of the Company's Common Stock issued under the Plan is
disposed of, the participant must make adequate provision for the Company's
federal, state, or other tax withholding obligations, if any, which arise upon
the exercise of the option or the disposition of the Common Stock. At any time,
the Company may, but will not be obligated to, withhold from the participant's
compensation the amount necessary for the Company to meet applicable withholding
obligations, including any withholding required to make available to the Company
any tax deductions or benefits attributable to sale or early disposition of
Common Stock by the Employee.
7. Grant of Option. On the Enrollment Date of each Offering Period,
each eligible Employee participating in such Offering Period shall be granted an
option to purchase on each Exercise Date during such Offering Period (at the
applicable Purchase Price) up to a number of shares of the Company's Common
Stock determined by dividing such Employee's payroll deductions accumulated
prior to such Exercise Date and retained in the Participant's account as of the
Exercise Date by the applicable Purchase Price; provided that in no event shall
an Employee be permitted to purchase during each Purchase Period more than a
number of Shares determined by dividing $12,500 by the Fair Market Value of a
share of the Company's Common Stock on the Enrollment Date, and provided further
that such purchase shall be subject to the limitations set forth in Sections
3(b) and 12 hereof. Exercise of the option shall occur as provided in Section 8
hereof, unless the participant has withdrawn pursuant to Section 10 hereof, and
shall expire on the last day of the Offering Period.
8. Exercise of Option. Unless a participant withdraws from the Plan
as provided in Section 10 hereof, his or her option for the purchase of shares
will be exercised automatically on the Exercise Date, and the maximum number of
full shares subject to option shall be purchased for such participant at the
applicable Purchase Price with the accumulated payroll deductions in his or her
account. No fractional shares will be purchased; any payroll deductions
accumulated in a participant's account which are not sufficient to purchase a
full share shall be retained in the participant's account for the subsequent
Purchase Period or Offering Period, subject to earlier withdrawal by the
participant as provided in Section 10 hereof. Any other monies left over in a
participant's account after the Exercise Date shall be returned to the
participant. During a participant's lifetime, a participant's option to purchase
shares hereunder is exercisable only by him or her.
9. Delivery. As promptly as practicable after each Exercise Date on
which a purchase of shares occurs, the Company shall arrange the delivery to
each participant, as appropriate, of a certificate representing the shares
purchased upon exercise of his or her option.
10. Withdrawal; Termination of Employment.
(a) A participant may withdraw all but not less than all the
payroll deductions credited to his or her account and not yet used to exercise
his or her option under the Plan at any time by giving written notice to the
Company in the form of Exhibit B to this Plan. All of the participant's payroll
<PAGE> 6
deductions credited to his or her account will be paid to such participant
promptly after receipt of notice of withdrawal and such participant's option for
the Offering Period will be automatically terminated, and no further payroll
deductions for the purchase of shares will be made for such Offering Period. If
a participant withdraws from an Offering Period, payroll deductions will not
resume at the beginning of the succeeding Offering Period unless the participant
delivers to the Company a new subscription agreement.
(b) Upon a participant's ceasing to be an Employee (as defined in
Section 2(g) hereof), for any reason, he or she will be deemed to have elected
to withdraw from the Plan and the payroll deductions credited to such
participant's account during the Offering Period but not yet used to exercise
the option will be returned to such participant or, in the case of his or her
death, to the person or persons entitled thereto under Section 14 hereof, and
such participant's option will be automatically terminated. The preceding
sentence notwithstanding, a participant who receives payment in lieu of notice
of termination of employment shall be treated as continuing to be an Employee
for the participant's customary number of hours per week of employment during
the period in which the participant is subject to such payment in lieu of
notice.
11. Interest. No interest shall accrue on the payroll deductions of a
participant in the Plan.
12. Stock.
(a) The maximum number of shares of the Company's Common Stock
which shall be made available for sale under the Plan shall be one million two
hundred thousand (1,200,000) shares, subject to adjustment upon changes in
capitalization of the Company as provided in Section 18 hereof. If, on a given
Exercise Date, the number of shares with respect to which options are to be
exercised exceeds the number of shares then available under the Plan, the
Company shall make a pro rata allocation of the shares remaining available for
purchase in as uniform a manner as shall be practicable and as it shall
determine to be equitable.
(b) The participant will have no interest or voting right in
shares covered by his option until such option has been exercised.
(c) Shares to be delivered to a participant under the Plan will
be registered in the name of the participant or in the name of the participant
and his or her spouse.
13. Administration.
(a) Administrative Body. The Plan shall be administered by the
Board or a committee of members of the Board appointed by the Board. The Board
or its committee shall have full and exclusive discretionary authority to
construe, interpret and apply the terms of the Plan, to determine eligibility
and to adjudicate all disputed claims filed under the Plan. Every finding,
decision and determination made by the Board or its committee shall, to the full
extent permitted by law, be final and binding upon all parties.
(b) Rule 16b-3 Limitations. Notwithstanding the provisions of
Subsection (a) of this Section 13, in the event that Rule 16b-3 promulgated
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or
any successor provision ("Rule 16b-3") provides specific requirements for the
administrators of plans of this type, the Plan shall be only administered by
such a body and in such a manner as shall comply with the applicable
requirements of Rule 16b-3. Unless permitted by Rule 16b-3, no discretion
concerning decisions regarding the Plan shall be afforded to any committee or
person that is not "disinterested" as that term is used in Rule 16b-3.
<PAGE> 7
14. Designation of Beneficiary.
(a) A participant may file a written designation of a beneficiary
who is to receive any shares and cash, if any, from the participant's account
under the Plan in the event of such participant's death subsequent to an
Exercise Date on which the option is exercised but prior to delivery to such
participant of such shares and cash. In addition, a participant may file a
written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any cash from the
participant's under the Plan in the event of such participant's death prior to
exercise of the option. If a participant is married and the designated
beneficiary is not the spouse, spousal consent shall be required for such
designation to be effective.
(b) Such designation of beneficiary may be changed by the
participant at any time by written notice. In the event of the death of a
participant and in the absence of a beneficiary validly designated under the
Plan who is living at the time of such participant's death, the Company shall
deliver such shares and/or cash to the executor or administrator of the estate
of the participant, or if no such executor or administrator has been appointed
(to the knowledge of the Company), the Company, in its discretion, may deliver
such shares and/or cash to the spouse or to any one or more dependents or
relatives of the participant, or if no spouse dependent or relative is known to
the Company, then to such other person as the Company may designate.
15. Transferability. Neither payroll deductions credited to a
participant's account nor any rights with regard to the exercise of an option or
to receive shares under the Plan may be assigned transferred, pledged or
otherwise disposed of in any way (other than by will, the laws of descent and
distribution or as provided in Section 14 hereof) by the participant. Any such
attempt at assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposition shall be without
effect, except that the Company may treat such act as an election to withdraw
funds from an Offering Period in accordance with Section 10 hereof.
16. Use of Funds. All payroll deductions received or held by the
Company under the Plan may be used by the Company for any corporate purpose, and
the Company shall not be obligated to segregate such payroll deductions.
17. Reports. Individual accounts will be maintained for each
participant in the Plan. Statements of account will be given to participating
Employees at least annually, which statements will set forth the amounts of
payroll deductions, the Purchase Price, the number of shares purchased and the
remaining cash balance, if any.
18. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization, Dissolution,
Liquidation, Merger or Asset Sale.
(a) Changes in Capitalization. Subject to any required action by
the shareholders of the Company, the Reserves as well as the price per share of
Common Stock covered by each option under the Plan which has not yet been
exercised shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the
number of issued shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse
stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the Common
Stock, or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock
effected without receipt of consideration by the Company; provided, however,
that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed
to have been "effected without receipt of consideration". Such adjustment shall
be made by the Board, whose determination in that respect shall be final,
binding and conclusive. Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the
Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares
of stock of any class, shall affect, and no
<PAGE> 8
adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price
of shares of Common Stock subject to an option.
(b) Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed
dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Offering Periods will terminate
immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action, unless otherwise
provided by the Board.
(c) Merger or Asset Sale. In the event of a proposed sale of all
or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the merger of the Company
with or into another corporation, each option under the Plan shall be assumed or
an equivalent option shall be substituted by such successor corporation or a
parent or subsidiary of such successor corporation, unless the Board determines,
in the exercise of its sole discretion and in lieu of such assumption or
substitution, to shorten the Offering Periods then in progress by setting a new
Exercise Date (the "New Exercise Date"). If the Board shortens the Offering
Periods then in progress in lieu of assumption or substitution in the event of a
merger or sale of assets, the Board shall notify each participant in writing, at
least ten (10) business days prior to the New Exercise Date, the Exercise Date
for his option has been changed to the New Exercise Date and that his option
will be exercised automatically on the New Exercise Date, unless prior to such
date he has withdrawn from the Offering Period as provided in Section 10 hereof.
For purposes of this paragraph, an option granted under the Plan shall be deemed
to be assumed if, following the sale of assets or merger, the option confers the
right to purchase, for each share of option stock subject to the option
immediately prior to the sale of assets or merger, the consideration (whether
stock, cash or other securities or property) received in the sale of assets or
merger by holders of Common Stock for each share of Common Stock held on the
effective date of the transaction (and if such holders were offered a choice or
consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock); provided, however, that if such
consideration received in the sale of assets or merger was not solely common
stock of the successor corporation or its parent (as defined in Section 424(e)
of the Code), the Board may, with the consent of the successor corporation,
provide for the consideration to be received upon exercise of the option to be
solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent equal in fair
market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock
and the sale of assets or merger.
19. Amendment or Termination.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may at any time and for
any reason terminate or amend the Plan. Except as provided in Section 18 hereof,
no such termination can affect options previously granted, provided that an
Offering Period may be terminated by the Board of Directors on any Exercise Date
if the Board determines that the termination of the Plan is in the best
interests of the Company and its shareholders. Except as provided in Section 18
hereof, no amendment may make any change in any option theretofore granted which
adversely affects the rights of any participant. To the extent necessary to
comply with Rule 16b-3 or under Section 423 of the Code (or any successor rule
or provision or any other applicable law or regulation), the Company shall
obtain shareholder approval in such a manner and to such a degree as required.
(b) Without shareholder consent and without regard to whether any
participant rights may be considered to have been "adversely affected," the
Board (or its committee) shall be entitled to change the Offering Periods, limit
the frequency and/or number of changes in the amount withheld during an Offering
Period, establish the exchange ratio applicable to amounts withheld in a
currency other than U.S. dollars, permit payroll withholding in excess of the
amount designated by a participant in order to adjust for delays or mistakes in
the Company's processing of properly completed withholding elections, establish
reasonable waiting and adjustment periods and/or accounting and crediting
procedures to ensure that amounts
<PAGE> 9
applied toward the purchase of Common Stock for each participant properly
correspond with amounts withheld from the participant's Compensation, and
establish such other limitations or procedures as the Board (or its committee)
determines in its sole discretion advisable which are consistent with the Plan.
20. Notices. All notices or other communications by a participant to
the Company under or in connection with the Plan shall be deemed to have been
duly given when received in the form specified by the Company at the location,
or by the person, designated by the Company for the receipt thereof.
21. Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares. Shares shall not be issued
with respect to an option unless the exercise of such option and the issuance
and delivery of such shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all applicable
provisions of law, domestic or foreign, including, without limitation, the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the requirements
of any stock exchange upon which the shares may then be listed, and shall be
further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such
compliance.
As a condition to the exercise of an option, the Company may
require the person exercising such option to represent and warrant at the time
of any such exercise that the shares are being purchased only for investment and
without any present intention to sell or distribute such shares if, in the
opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any of
the aforementioned applicable provisions of law.
22. Term of Plan. The Plan shall become effective upon the earlier to
occur of its adoption by the Board of Directors or its approval by the
shareholders of the Company. It shall continue in effect for a term of ten (10)
years unless sooner terminated under Section 19 hereof.
23. Automatic Transfer to Low Price Offering Period. To the extent
permitted by Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act, if the Fair Market Value of the
Common Stock on any Exercise Date in an Offering Period is lower than the Fair
Market Value of the Common Stock on the Enrollment Date of such Offering Period,
then all participants in such Offering Period shall be automatically withdrawn
from such Offering Period immediately after the exercise of their option on such
Exercise Date and automatically re-enrolled in the immediately following
Offering Period as of the first day thereof.
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 5.1
<PAGE> 2
October 29, 1996
Rational Software Corporation
2800 San Tomas Expressway
Santa Clara, CA 95051
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-8 - Rational Software Corporation
1994 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-8 to be filed by
you with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about October 29, 1996
(the "Registration Statement"), in connection with the registration under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of 400,000 shares of Rational Software
Corporation Common Stock (the "Plan Shares"), to be issued pursuant to the
Rational Software Corporation 1994 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan"). As
your counsel in connection with the transaction, we have examined the
proceedings taken and proposed to be taken in connection with the issuance and
sale of the Plan Shares.
It is our opinion that the Plan Shares, when issued and sold in the
manner described under the Plan, will be legally and validly issued, fully paid
and non-assessable.
We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement, and further consent to the use of our name wherever appearing in the
Registration Statement and any amendments thereto.
Very truly yours,
WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
Professional Corporation
/s/ Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 23.1
CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form
S-8) pertaining to the Rational Software Corporation 1994 Employee Stock
Purchase Plan of Rational Software Corporation of our reports dated April 22,
1996, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Rational Software
Corporation incorporated by reference in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the
year ended March 31, 1996 and the related financial statement schedule included
therein, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
San Jose, California
October 24, 1996
