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): JULY 30, 1999 (JULY 23, 1999)
TELESCAN, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
0-17508 72-1121748
(Commission (IRS Employer
File Number) Identification No.)
5959 CORPORATE DRIVE, SUITE 2000
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77036
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (281) 588-9700
<PAGE>
ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.
A Stock Purchase Agreement was entered into as of July 23, 1999 (the "Stock
Purchase Agreement") between the Company and GE Capital Equity Investments, Inc.
("GE"), pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell to GE an
aggregate of 1,111,111 shares (the "Shares") of the Company's common stock, $.01
par value per share (the "Common Stock"), for an aggregate purchase price of
$25,000,000 ($22.50 per Share). The purchase and sale of Shares contemplated by
the Stock Purchase Agreement was completed as of July 23, 1999. For more
information concerning the purchase and sale of such Shares, reference is made
to the Stock Purchase Agreement, which is attached to this report as Exhibit
10.1 and which is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION
- ------- -----------
10.1 Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 23, 1999, by and between
the Company and GE.
99.1 Press Release, dated as of July 27, 1999, by the Company announcing
the completion of the transactions contemplated by the Stock
Purchase Agreement.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Dated: July 30, 1999 Telescan, Inc.
By: /s/ RONALD WARREN
Ronald Warren
President
<PAGE>
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION
- ------- -----------
10.1 Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 23, 1999, by and between
the Company and GE.
99.1 Press Release, dated as of July 27, 1999, by the Company announcing
the completion of the transactions contemplated by the Stock
Purchase Agreement.
EXHIBIT 10.1
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This Stock Purchase Agreement (the "Agreement") is entered into as of July
23, 1999 by and among Telescan, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and GE Capital Equity Investments, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Purchaser").
WHEREAS, the Company desires to sell, and the Purchaser desires to
purchase, an aggregate of 1,111,111 shares (the "Shares") of the Company's
common stock, $.01 par value per share (the "Common Stock"), on the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth herein; and
WHEREAS, the Company and National Broadcasting Company, Inc. ("NBC")
desire to enter into an amendment to the License Agreement dated as of February
22, 1999, between the Company and NBC (the "Amendment Agreement").
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations and warranties
contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. AGREEMENT TO PURCHASE. At the Closing (as defined below), and subject
to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Purchaser will
purchase the Shares from the Company, and the Company will issue and sell the
Shares to the Purchaser, for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000,000 ($22.50
per Share).
2. CLOSING. The closing of the transaction contemplated hereby ("Closing")
shall take place as soon as practicable following the satisfaction of the
conditions to closing set forth in Section 8 hereof. At the Closing, the
Purchaser will pay the purchase price for the Shares, by wire transfer of
immediately available funds, to an account specified by the Company, and the
Company will then deliver to the Purchaser a certificate or certificates
representing such Shares, registered in the name of the Purchaser.
3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY. The Company represents
and warrants to the Purchaser as follows:
(a) The Company is duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and has the requisite
corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and the Amendment
Agreement, perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder, and issue the
Shares in accordance with the terms hereof.
(b) The Company has taken all corporate action required to authorize
the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Amendment Agreement and the
performance of its obligations hereunder and thereunder, including the issuance
of the Shares, and this Agreement and the Amendment Agreement have been duly
executed and delivered by the Company and constitute valid and legally binding
obligation of the Company. When issued to and paid for by the Purchaser in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Shares will be duly and validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and the issuance of the shares will not be
subject to any preemptive or similar rights that have not been waived.
<PAGE>
(c) As of July 23, 1999, the authorized and outstanding
capitalization of the Company consists of (i) a total of 10,000,000 authorized
shares of preferred stock (the "Preferred Stock"), of which 120,000 shares of 5%
convertible preferred stock are outstanding, and (ii) a total of 30,000,000
authorized shares of Common Stock, of which 15,286,889 shares are issued and
outstanding. All of such outstanding shares are validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable, and none of such outstanding shares was issued in violation of
any preemptive rights. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Documents
and except for an option to purchase 75,000 shares of Common Stock to be issued
to Monness, Crespi, Hardt & Co., Inc., there are no outstanding any options,
warrants or similar agreements for the purchase from the Company of any shares
of its capital stock or any securities convertible into or ultimately
exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of the Company's capital stock.
Neither the execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement, the sale of
the Shares hereunder, nor the performance of the Company's other obligations
under this Agreement will require (i) the issuance of any additional shares of
Common Stock of the Company or other securities convertible into shares of
equity securities of the Company or (ii) the adjustment in any exercise,
conversion or liquidation price of any outstanding option, warrant or
convertible security.
(d) Neither the execution and delivery by the Company of this
Agreement or the Amendment Agreement, the sale of the Shares hereunder nor the
performance of the Company's other obligations under this Agreement or the
Amendment Agreement: (A) will violate, conflict with, result in a breach of or
constitute a default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time, would
constitute a default) under (i) the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of
the Company, (ii) any decree, judgment, order or determination of any court,
governmental agency or body, or any arbitrator having jurisdiction over the
Company or any of the Company's assets, (iii) any law, rule or regulation
applicable to the Company, or (iv) the terms of any material agreement by which
the Company is bound or to which any property of the Company is subject; and (B)
requires the consent or approval of, or any filing with any court, governmental
agency or body or any other person (except to the extent previously obtained or
made).
(e) Neither the Company nor any person acting on behalf of the
Company has offered or sold any of the Shares by any form of general
solicitation or general advertising. The Company has offered the Shares for sale
only to the Purchaser. The sale of the Shares by the Company is not part of a
plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Act").
(f) The Company has filed on a timely basis all reports, schedules
and other documents required to be filed by it with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC") since January 1, 1997 (collectively, the "Disclosure
Documents"), and such Disclosure Documents, as of their respective dates, do not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading.
(g) The financial statements of the Company included in each of the
Disclosure Documents, including the schedules and notes thereto, comply in all
material respects with the requirements of the Act or the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (as applicable), fairly present the financial condition
and results of operations and cash flows of the Company and its subsidiaries at
the respective dates and for the respective periods indicated and have been
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied throughout such periods.
<PAGE>
(h) As of the date hereof, since March 31, 1999, there has been no
material adverse change in the properties, business, results of operations or
condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as
a whole; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that changes in the price of the Company's
outstanding shares of Common Stock shall not be deemed to be a material adverse
change.
(i) The Boards of Directors of the Company and each of its
subsidiaries has taken appropriate action so that the provisions of Section 203
of the Delaware General Corporation Law restricting "business combinations" with
"interested shareholders" (each as defined in such Section 203) will not apply
to the Purchaser or any of its affiliates with respect to this Agreement or any
of the transactions contemplated hereby.
(j) With the exception of the transaction fee payable to Banc of
America Securities, no person or entity acting on behalf or under the authority
of the Company is or will be entitled to any broker's, finder's or seller's fee
or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby. The
Company shall pay all transaction fees and expenses of Banc of America
Securities.
(k) Subject to and based in part upon the truth and accuracy of the
representations and warranties of the Purchaser in Section 4 hereof, the
offering, sale and purchase of the Shares contemplated hereby are exempt from
registration under the Act and are or will be qualified under any applicable
state securities or "blue-sky" laws.
4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER. The Purchaser
represents and warrants to the Company as of the date hereof as follows:
(a) The Purchaser is acquiring the Shares for its own account and
the account of NBC for investment purposes and not with a view to the
distribution thereof within the meaning of the Act.
(b) The Purchaser and NBC understand that the Shares constitute
"restricted securities" within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Act and may not
be sold, pledged or otherwise disposed of unless they are subsequently
registered under the Act and applicable state securities laws or unless an
exemption from registration is available.
(c) Each of the Purchaser and NBC is an "accredited investor" within
the meaning of Rule 501 under the Act.
(d) No consent, approval, authorization or order of any court,
governmental agency or body or arbitrator having jurisdiction over the Purchaser
or of the Purchaser's affiliates is required for the execution of this Agreement
or the performance of the Purchaser's obligations hereunder, including, without
limitation, the purchase of the Shares from the Company.
(e) The Purchaser has taken all corporate action required to
authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of
its obligations hereunder, and this Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by the Purchaser and constitutes a valid and legally binding
obligation of the Purchaser.
<PAGE>
(f) No person or entity acting on behalf or under the authority of
the Purchaser is or will be entitled to any broker's, finder's, or similar fee
or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.
5. COVENANT TO REGISTER.
(a) For purposes of this Section, the following definitions shall
apply:
(i) The terms "register," "registered," and "registration"
refer to a registration under the Act, effected by preparing and filing a
registration statement or similar document in compliance with the Act, and the
declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such registration statement,
document or amendment thereto.
(ii) The term "Registrable Securities" means the Shares issued
pursuant to this Agreement and the shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the
Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of January 14, 1999 between the Company and
the Purchaser, and any securities of the Company or securities of any successor
corporation issued in exchange for, or in replacement of, the Registrable
Securities (including any securities issued by way of a stock dividend or stock
split).
(b) (i) At any time on or after January 23, 2000, the Purchaser and
its permitted assigns shall have the right to require by notice in writing that
the Company use its best efforts to register all or any part of the Registrable
Securities held by such holder (a "Demand Registration") and the Company shall
thereupon, as expeditiously as possible, use its best efforts to effect such
registration in accordance herewith. If the Purchaser provides such written
notice on December 23, 1999, the Company will use its best efforts to effect
such registration by January 23, 2000. If the Purchaser demands registration of
less than all of the Registrable Securities covered thereby, the Company, at its
option, may nevertheless file a registration statement covering all of the
Registrable Securities. If such registration statement is declared effective
with respect to all Registrable Securities and the Company is in compliance with
its obligations under Subsections (c)(i) through (v) of this Section 5, the
demand registration rights granted pursuant to this Subsection (b)(i) shall
cease. If such registration statement is not declared effective with respect to
all Registrable Securities covered thereby, or if the Company is not in
compliance with its obligations, the demand registration right described herein
shall remain in effect, and the Purchaser shall continue to have the right to
demand the registration of the Registrable Securities pursuant to this
Subsection (b)(i). The Company shall provide holders of Registrable Securities
reasonable opportunity (at least 7 business days) to review any such
registration statement or amendment or supplement thereto prior to the filing
thereof.
(ii) The Company shall not be obligated to effect a Demand
Registration under Subsection (b)(i) above (A) if all of the Registrable
Securities held by the Purchaser which are demanded to be covered by the Demand
Registration are, at the time of such demand, included in an effective
registration statement and the Company is in compliance with its obligations
under Subsection (c) of this Section 5 or (B) if all of the Registrable
Securities may be sold under Rule 144(k) of the Act and the Company's transfer
agent has accepted an instruction from the Company to such effect and issued one
or more certificates representing the Registrable Securities.
(iii) The Company may suspend the effectiveness of any such
registration effected pursuant to this Subsection (b) in the event, and for such
period of time as, such a suspension is required by the rules and regulations of
the SEC. The Company will use its best efforts to cause such suspension to
terminate at the earliest possible date.
<PAGE>
(iv) The Company shall have the right, by written notice to
the Purchaser, to request that the Purchaser discontinue dispositions of
Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement covering such
Registrable Securities during one or more periods aggregating not more than 60
days in any twelve-month period in the event that (i) Company would, in
accordance with the advice of its counsel, be required to disclose in the
prospectus information not otherwise then required by law to be publicly
disclosed and (ii) in the good faith judgment of the Company's Board of
Directors, there is a reasonable likelihood that such disclosure, or any other
action to be taken in connection with the prospectus, would materially and
adversely affect any existing or prospective material business situation,
transaction or negotiation or otherwise materially and adversely affect Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, such right of the Company shall not be applicable
during the two week period following the public release by the Company of an
earnings statement.
(c) If at any time, or from time to time, the Company shall
determine to register any of its securities, either for its own account or the
account of a security holder or holders other than (i) a registration filed on a
Form S-4 or Form S-8 or any successor form, or (ii) a registration relating
solely to a Commission Rule 145 transaction, the Company will:
(i) promptly give to the Purchaser written notice thereof; and
(ii) include in such registration (and any related
qualification under blue sky laws or other compliance), and in any underwriting
involved therein, all the Registrable Securities specified in a written request
or requests, made within twenty (20) days after receipt of such written notice
from the Company, by the Purchaser, but only to the extent that such inclusion
will not diminish the number of securities included by the Company or by holders
of the Company's securities who have demanded such registration.
(d) Whenever required under this Section 5 to effect the
registration of any Registrable Securities, the Company shall, as expeditiously
as possible:
(i) Prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement
with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its best efforts to cause
such registration to become effective as provided in Section 5(b) or 5(c), and
keep such registration statement effective for so long as the Purchaser desires
to dispose of the securities covered by such registration statement; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that in no event shall the Company be required to keep the registration
statement effective for a period greater than three years from the date of
effectiveness of such registration statement.
(ii) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and
supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection
with such registration statement as may be necessary to comply with the
provisions of the Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered
by such registration statement and notify the Purchaser of the filing and
effectiveness of such registration statement and any amendments or supplements.
(iii) Furnish to the Purchaser such numbers of copies of a
current prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, conforming with the
requirements of the Act, copies of the registration statement, any amendment or
supplement to any thereof and any documents incorporated by reference therein
and such other documents as the Purchaser may reasonably require in order to
facilitate the disposition of Registrable Securities owned by the Purchaser.
<PAGE>
(iv) Use its best efforts to register and qualify the
securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities or
"Blue Sky" laws of such jurisdictions as shall be reasonably requested by the
Purchaser; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company shall not be required in
connection therewith or as a condition thereto to qualify to do business or to
file a general consent to service of process in any such states or
jurisdictions), and do such other reasonable acts and things as may be required
of it to enable the Purchaser to consummate the disposition in such jurisdiction
of the securities covered by such registration statement.
(v) Notify the Purchaser immediately of the happening of any
event as a result of which the prospectus included in such registration
statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of material fact or
omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then
existing, and use its best efforts to promptly update and/or correct such
prospectus.
(vi) Furnish to the Purchaser prompt notice of the
commencement of any stop-order proceedings under the Act, together with copies
of all relevant documents in connection therewith, and use its best efforts to
obtain withdrawal of any such stop order as soon as possible.
(vii) Enter into customary agreements and take such other
actions as are reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate the
disposition of such Registrable Securities.
(viii) Otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all
applicable rules and regulations of the SEC.
(e) Upon request of the Company, the Purchaser will furnish to the
Company in connection with any registration under this Section such information
regarding itself, the Registrable Securities and other securities of the Company
held by it, and the intended method of disposition of such securities as shall
be reasonably required to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities
held by the Purchaser.
(f) (i) In the event of any registration under the Act of
Registrable Securities pursuant to Subsection (b) or (c), the Company shall
indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Purchaser and each of its officers,
directors, employees, agents, partners or controlling persons (within the
meaning of the Act) (each, an "indemnified party") from and against, and shall
reimburse such indemnified party with respect to, any and all claims, suits,
demands, causes of action, losses, damages, liabilities, costs or expenses
("Liabilities") to which such indemnified party may become subject under the Act
or otherwise, arising from or relating to (A) any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact contained in such registration statement,
any prospectus contained therein or any amendment or supplement thereto, or (B)
the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances in which they were made, not misleading; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such
Liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or omission so made
in strict conformity with information furnished by such indemnified party in
writing specifically for use in the registration statement. Such indemnity shall
remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on
behalf of such Purchaser or such officer, director, employee, agent, partner or
controlling person, and shall survive the transfer of such securities by the
Purchaser.
<PAGE>
(ii) In the event of any registration under the Act of
Registrable Securities pursuant to Subsection (b) or (c), the Purchaser agrees
to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Company, and its officers, directors,
employees, agents, partners, or controlling persons (within the meaning of the
Act) (each, an "indemnified party") from and against, and shall reimburse such
indemnified party with respect to, any and all Liabilities to which such
indemnified party may become subject under the Act or otherwise, arising from or
relating to (A) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material
fact contained in such registration statement, any prospectus contained therein
or any amendment or supplement thereto, or (B) the omission or alleged omission
to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were
made, not misleading; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Purchaser will be liable in
any such case to the extent, and only to the extent, that any such Liability
arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
or omission or alleged omission made in such registration statement, prospectus
or amendment or supplement thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished by the Purchaser specifically for use in the
preparation thereof. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Subsection (f)(ii)
or Subsection (f)(iv) below, the Purchaser shall not be required to indemnify
any person pursuant to this Subsection (f) or to contribute pursuant to
Subsection (f)(iv) below in an amount in excess of the amount of the aggregate
net proceeds received by such Purchaser in connection with any such registration
under the Securities Act.
(iii) Promptly after receipt by any indemnified party of
notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a
claim in respect thereof is to be made against another party (the "indemnifying
party") hereunder, notify such party in writing thereof, but the omission so to
notify such party shall not relieve such party from any Liability which it may
have to the indemnified party other than under this section and shall only
relieve it from any Liability which it may have to the indemnified party under
this section if and to the extent an indemnifying party is materially prejudiced
by such omission. In case any such action shall be brought against any
indemnified party and such indemnified party shall notify an indemnifying party
of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to
participate in and, to the extent it shall wish, to assume and undertake the
defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party,
and, after notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its
election so to assume and undertake the defense thereof, the indemnifying party
shall not be liable to the indemnified party under this section for any legal
expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the
defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation and of liaison with
counsel so selected; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the defendants in any such
action include both parties and the indemnified party shall have reasonably
concluded that there may be reasonable defenses available to it which are
different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party or if
the interests of the indemnified party reasonably may be deemed to conflict with
the interests of the indemnifying party, the indemnified party shall have the
right to select a separate counsel and to assume such legal defenses and
otherwise to participate in the defense of such action, with the reasonable
expenses and fees of one such separate counsel (in addition to any local
counsel) and other reasonable expenses related to such participation to be
reimbursed by the indemnifying party as incurred.
(iv) In order to provide for just and equitable contribution
to joint liability under the Act in any case in which either (A) any indemnified
party specified in paragraph (i) or (ii) above makes a claim for indemnification
pursuant to this Section 5(f), but it is judicially determined (by the entry of
a final judgment or decree by a court of competent jurisdiction and the
expiration of time to appeal or the denial of the last right of appeal) that
such indemnification may not be fully enforced in such case notwithstanding the
fact that this Section 5(f) provides for indemnification in
<PAGE>
such case, or (B) contribution under the Act may be required on the part of any
such indemnified party in circumstances for which indemnification is provided
under this Section 5(f); then, in each such case, each indemnifying party will
contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which such
indemnified parties may be subject as is appropriate to reflect the relative
fault of such indemnified parties on the one hand and such indemnifying parties
on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in
such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, it being understood that the
parties acknowledge that the overriding equitable consideration to be given
effect in connection with this provision is the ability of one party or the
other to correct the statement or omission which resulted in such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities, and that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant hereto were to be determined by PRO RATA allocation or by
any other method of allocation which does not take into consideration the
foregoing equitable considerations.
(g) (i) With respect to the inclusion of Registrable Securities in a
registration statement pursuant to Subsection (b) or (c), all fees, costs and
expenses of and incidental to such registration (including any amendments or
supplements to the registration statement), inclusion and public offering shall
be borne by the Company; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any security holders
participating in such registration shall bear their pro-rata share of the
underwriting discounts and commissions, if any, incurred by them in connection
with such registration.
(ii) The fees, costs and expenses of registration to be borne
by the Company as provided in this Subsection (g) shall include, without
limitation, all registration, filing and NASD fees, printing expenses, fees and
disbursements of counsel and accountants for the Company, and all legal fees and
disbursements and other expenses of complying with state securities or Blue Sky
laws of any jurisdiction or jurisdictions in which securities to be offered are
to be registered and qualified. Subject to appropriate agreements as to
confidentiality, the Company shall make available to the holders of Registrable
Securities and their counsel its documents and personnel for due diligence
purposes.
(h) The Purchaser may assign any or all of its rights and
obligations under this Section 5 to any other person without the prior written
consent of the Company and such permitted assignee shall be considered a
"Purchaser" hereunder for all purposes.
(i) The Company will not hereafter enter into any agreement with
respect to its securities which is inconsistent with the rights granted to the
holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement. The Company has not
previously entered into any agreement with respect to any of its securities
granting any registration rights to any person, other than registration rights
granted to, and already exercised by, the holders of the Company's 5%
convertible preferred stock and the Purchaser.
(j) Each holder of Registrable Securities, in addition to being
entitled to exercise all rights granted by law, including recovery of damages,
will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The
Company agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any
loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Agreement
and hereby agrees to waive the defense in any action for specific performance
that a remedy at law would be adequate. In any action or proceeding brought to
enforce any provision of this Agreement or where any provision hereof is validly
asserted as a defense, the successful party shall be entitled to recover
reasonable attorneys' fees in addition to any other available remedy.
(k) The Company covenants that, if it is not subject to the
reporting requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
<PAGE>
Act"), it will (a) upon the request of any holder of Registrable Securities,
make publicly available such information as necessary to permit sales pursuant
to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, and (b) upon the request of any holder of
Registrable Securities, make available such information as may be required by
Rule 144A(d)(4) in order to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144A under the
Securities Act. In addition, the Company will take such further action as any
holder of Registrable Securities may reasonably request, to the extent required
to enable such holder to sell Registrable Securities without registration under
the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (x) Rule
144 and Rule 144A under the Securities Act, as such Rules may be amended from
time to time, or (y) any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the
SEC. Upon the request of any holder of Registrable Securities, the Company will
deliver to such holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with
such informational and other requirements.
6. HSR COVENANTS. Each party hereto undertakes and agrees to file as soon
as practicable after the date hereof, a Notification and Report Form under the
Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended ("HSR Act"),
with the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") and the Antitrust Division of the
Department of Justice ("Antitrust Division"). Each party hereto shall (i)
respond as promptly as practicable to any inquiries received from the FTC or the
Antitrust Division for additional information or documentation and to all
inquiries and requests received from any other governmental authority in
connection with antitrust matters and (ii) not extend any waiting period under
the HSR Act or enter into any agreement with the FTC or the Antitrust Division
not to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except with
the prior written consent of the other party; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6, (y) no party hereto
nor any of its affiliates shall be required to make any disposition, including,
without limitation, any disposition of, or any agreement to hold separate, any
subsidiary, asset or business, and (z) no party hereto nor any of its affiliates
be required to comply with any condition or undertaking or take any action
imposed by the FTC or the Antitrust Division which, individually or in the
aggregate, would materially and adversely affect the economic benefits to such
party of the transactions contemplated hereby or materially and adversely affect
any other business of such party or its affiliates.
7. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY. The Company agrees that, from the
date hereof until the Closing, without the prior written consent of the
Purchaser, it shall, and shall cause its subsidiaries to, operate their
businesses only in the usual, regular and ordinary manner, on a basis consistent
with past practice and that it shall not issue, purchase or redeem, or authorize
or propose the issuance, purchase or redemption of, or declare or pay any
dividend with respect to, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any
class of securities convertible into, or rights, warrants or options to acquire,
any such shares of other convertible securities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
Company may issue shares of its Common Stock upon the valid exercise of
outstanding options or shares of Preferred Stock.
8. CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION TO CLOSE. The obligation of each of the
parties to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is subject
to and conditioned upon the satisfaction or waiver by the appropriate party of
each of the following conditions on or prior to the Closing:
(a) NO INJUNCTIONS OR RESTRAINTS. At the Closing, there shall be (i)
no injunction, restraining order or other decree of any nature of any court of
competent jurisdiction or other governmental authority that is in effect that
restrains or prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated
hereby, and (ii) no action taken by any court of competent jurisdiction or other
governmental authority, or any statute, rule, regulation or order enacted,
entered, enforced or
<PAGE>
deemed applicable to the transactions contemplated hereby, which makes the
consummation of this Agreement and the transactions herein illegal; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that the parties hereto shall use their reasonable commercial efforts
to have such injunction, order, decree, claim, action, suit, statute, rule or
regulation vacated or declared inapplicable as expeditiously as practicable;
(b) ACCURACY OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The representations
and warranties of each party shall be true and correct in all material respects,
in each case, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing, as if such
representations and warranties had been made on and as of such dates (except
with respect to representations and warranties that, by their terms, are made as
of a different date, which must be true and correct in all material respects as
of such date);
(c) COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES. Each party shall have performed its
obligations hereunder that are required to be performed at or prior to the
Closing;
(d) REGULATORY AUTHORIZATIONS. All applicable waiting periods (and
any extensions thereof) under the HSR Act shall have expired or otherwise been
terminated; and
(e) AMENDMENT AGREEMENT. NBC and the Company shall have entered into
the Amendment Agreement.
9. TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT. The parties may terminate this Agreement only
as expressly provided below, and upon such termination, all rights and
obligations of the parties hereto shall terminate without any further liability
hereunder:
(a) The Company and the Purchaser may terminate this Agreement by
mutual written consent at any time prior to Closing; and
(b) Either the Company or the Purchaser may terminate this Agreement
by written notice to the other party if Closing has not occurred on or before
September 30, 1999; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the right to terminate this
Agreement under this clause (b) shall not be available to any party whose
failure to fulfill any obligation under this Agreement has been the cause of, or
resulted in, the failure to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement on or before such date.
10. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) The terms and conditions of this Agreement represent the entire
agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and
supersede any prior agreements or understandings, whether written or oral,
between the parties respecting such subject matter. This Agreement may be
modified only in a writing signed by the party against whom such modification is
to be enforced.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, neither party
may assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the
prior written consent of the other party.
(c) This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance
with the laws of the state of New York applicable to agreements between
residents of New York wholly executed and wholly performed therein.
(d) This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and
such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same agreement.
<PAGE>
IN WITNESSES WHEREOF, the parties have entered into this Agreement as of
the date first set forth above.
TELESCAN, INC.
By: /s/ RONALD WARREN
Name: Ronald Warren
Title: President
GE CAPITAL EQUITY INVESTMENTS, INC.
By: /s/ JEFFREY COATS
Name: Jeffrey Coats
Title: Managing Director
[SIGNATURE PAGE OF STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT]
EXHIBIT 99.1
NBC INVESTS $25 MILLION EQUITY IN TELESCAN, INCREASING STAKE TO 14.2%
NBC EXTENDS LICENSING AGREEMENT FOR
TELESCAN TECHNOLOGY AND CONTENT TO 5 YEARS
HOUSTON, JULY 27, 1999--Telescan, Inc. (Nasdaq/NMS:TSCN) today announced that
NBC has agreed to invest $25 million through the purchase of 1.1 million shares
of Telescan's common stock. The investment brings NBC's and GE Equity's
(NYSE:GE) stake in Telescan to 14.2 percent, up from the initial 9.9 percent
investment NBC made in the company in January. Simultaneously, NBC has extended
the terms of the contract and licensing agreement for Telescan's technology,
content and hosting services to five years from three. NBC also has the option
to extend the contract for an additional five years beyond the newly-extended
contract.
NBC uses Telescan's proprietary technology, financial content and investment
analytic tools for CNBC.com, its recently launched business and personal finance
portal. The agreement calls for Telescan to receive monthly license and
maintenance fees, as well as a percentage of net revenue derived from the site.
No other terms of the deal were revealed.
David Brown, Telescan's chairman and chief executive officer, said, "We are
delighted that NBC has moved to enhance and expand the scope of our original
agreement. We look forward to being an integral partner in the success of this
world-class Internet platform."
Chris Glowacki, Vice President, NBC Interactive, and Telescan Board member said,
"Telescan is a strategic investment for NBC. Their technology has been key to
differentiating CNBC.com as a world-class business and personal finance portal.
We look at this investment as a meaningful contribution to our business strategy
and are proud to increase our interest in this exciting company."
Houston-based Telescan (WWW.TELESCAN.COM) is an industry leader in providing
Internet services to financial and publishing service companies, as well as
proprietary analytics and content to individual investors. The company develops
and operates Internet sites and major online networks serving the financial and
publishing industries. Telescan's Wall Street City(R) supersitE
(WWW.WALLSTREETCITY.COM) provides the most comprehensive suite of search tools,
technical analysis and financial data on the Internet.
Telescan provides private-label versions of its proprietary Internet
technology to many of the nation's leading financial services and media
companies including American Express, BPI Communications, Fidelity
Investments, NBC, Standard & Poor's, Time Inc. New Media and Playboy
Enterprises.
CNBC.com (HTTP://WWW.CNBC.COM) is the best of CNBC on the Internet. This newly
launched personal finance portal designed to help investors profit from today's
lightning-paced financial activity with company information, stock quotes, data
and analyses. Leveraging CNBC's renowned coverage of financial markets with
anchor programs like Squawk Box and Power Lunch, CNBC.com gives users an
insider's view to news and analysis that is breaking on-air through e-alerts,
video clips and summaries from CNBC on-air personalities. Investors can receive
free real-time stock quotes, up-to-the-minute market data with interpretation,
and e-alerts with late-breaking news of their personal portfolio. Users can also
track multiple portfolios, personalize a streaming stock ticker, and create
customized financial charts.
NBC is a global media company with broadly diverse holdings. NBC owns and
operates the NBC Television Network as well as thirteen television stations. In
the United States, NBC owns CNBC,
<PAGE>
operates MSNBC in partnership with Microsoft, and maintains equity interests in
Arts & Entertainment and The History Channel. NBC also has an equity stake in
Rainbow Programming Holdings, a leading media company with a wide array of
entertainment and sports cable channels, including the Madison Square Garden
network, and ValueVision International. Internationally, NBC owns and operates
CNBC: A Service of NBC and Dow Jones in partnership with Dow Jones & Company in
Europe and Asia. In partnership with National Geographic and Fox/BskyB, the
network owns and operates the National Geographic Channel in Europe and Asia.
The leader among traditional media companies in Internet and new media
businesses, NBC holds equity stakes in CNET, Talk City, iVillage, Telescan,
Hoover's, Sandpiper Networks and 24/7 Media. Several of NBC's Internet assets
are slated to be merged with Snap.com, the fastest-growing Internet portal, and
XOOM.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: XMCM), the fastest-growing community-based site on the
Web and a leading direct e-commerce services company, to form the
seventh-largest Internet site and the first publicly traded Internet company
integrated with a major broadcaster. The new company, to be called NBC Internet
(NBCi), will use Snap.com as its umbrella consumer brand, integrating broadcast,
portal, and e-commerce services. With Microsoft, NBC owns and operates MSNBC, a
24-hour cable news network and Internet news service at www.msnbc.com. Also,
together with Microsoft and Dow Jones, NBC operates CNBC/Dow Jones Business
Video, offering video- and audio-based financial news and information to
financial professionals and institutions. Other new media innovations from NBC
include interactive television initiatives with Microsoft WebTV for Windows and
WebTV Plus, TiVo, Wink-enhanced programming with Wink Communications, NBC
Intercast with Intel, electronic program guides with Gemstar and on-demand video
services with Intertainer.
"SAFE HARBOR" STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF
1995: EXCEPT FOR HISTORICAL INFORMATION, THE MATTERS DISCUSSED IN THIS NEWS
RELEASE THAT MAY BE CONSIDERED FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS COULD BE SUBJECT TO
CERTAIN RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES THAT COULD CAUSE THE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER
MATERIALLY FROM THOSE PROJECTED. THESE INCLUDE UNCERTAINTIES IN THE MARKET,
COMPETITION, LEGAL, SUCCESS OF MARKETING EFFORTS AND OTHER RISKS DETAILED FROM
TIME TO TIME IN THE COMPANY'S SEC REPORTS. THE COMPANY ASSUMES NO OBLIGATION TO
UPDATE THE INFORMATION IN THIS RELEASE.
Contacts:
David Brown of Telescan, 281-588-9700,
Jeffrey Goldberger, Investor Relations
Keith Lanigan, Media, of Stern & Co., 212-888-0044, for Telescan;
Maria Battaglia, NBC Corporate Communications, 212-664-3457,
Marcy Brucellaria, GE Capital, 203-961-2281.
###
