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): JANUARY 22, 1999 (JANUARY
14, 1999)
TELESCAN, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
0-17508 72-1121748
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(Commission (IRS Employer
File Number) Identification No.)
5959 CORPORATE DRIVE, SUITE 2000
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77036
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (281) 588-9700
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.
A Stock Purchase Agreement was entered into as of January 14, 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 1,220,237 shares (the "Shares") of the Company's common stock, $.01
par value per share (the "Common Stock"), for an aggregate purchase price of
$9,395,825 ($7.70 per Share). The purchase and sale of Shares contemplated by
the Stock Purchase Agreement was completed January 14, 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 January 14, 1999, by and
between the Company and GE.
99.1 Press Release, dated as of January 15, 1999, by the Company
announcing the completion of the transactions contemplated by the
Stock Purchase Agreement.
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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: January 22, 1999 Telescan, Inc.
By: /s/ RONALD WARREN
------------------------
Ronald Warren
Chief Financial Officer
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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit
NUMBER DESCRIPTION
10.1 Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 14, 1999, by and
between the Company and GE.
99.1 Press Release, dated as of January 15, 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
January 14, 1999 by and among Telescan, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and GE Capital Equity Investments, Inc. (the "Purchaser").
WHEREAS, the Company desires to sell, and the Purchaser desires to
purchase, an aggregate of 1,220,237 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.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations and warranties
contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. AGREEMENT TO PURCHASE. The Purchaser hereby purchases the Shares from
the Company, and the Company hereby issues and sells the Shares to the
Purchaser, for an aggregate purchase price of $9,395,824.90 ($7.70 per Share).
2. CLOSING. Upon payment of the purchase price for the Shares, by wire
transfer of immediately available funds to an account specified by the Company,
the Company will 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 of the date hereof 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, perform its
obligations hereunder, 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 performance of its
obligations hereunder, including the issuance of the Shares, and this Agreement
has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a 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.
(c) As of the date of this Agreement, 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
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(ii) a total of 15,000,000 authorized shares of Common Stock, of which
11,105,388 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. In addition to the
foregoing, as of January 14, 1999, warrants and options to purchase a total of
1,037,972 shares of Common Stock are outstanding, and the Company is authorized
to grant additional options to purchase up to 522,498 additional shares of
Common Stock pursuant to its existing stock option plans. Otherwise, there are
not 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,
the sale of the Shares hereunder nor the performance of the Company's other
obligations under this 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
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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.
(h) As of the date hereof, since September 30, 1998, 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.
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 for
investment purposes and not with a view to the distribution thereof within the
meaning of the Act.
(b) The Purchaser understands 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) The Purchaser 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.
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 up to 50% of the
Shares issued pursuant to this Agreement, and any securities of the Company or
securities of any successor
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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 October 15, 1999, 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 October 15, 1999, the Company will use its best efforts to effect such
registration by December 15, 1999. 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. 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.
(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
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be applicable during the two week period following the public release by the
Company of an earnings statement.
(c) 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), 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.
(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.
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(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.
(d) 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.
(e) (i) In the event of any registration under the Act of
Registrable Securities pursuant to Subsection (b), 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.
(ii) In the event of any registration under the Act of
Registrable Securities pursuant to Subsection (b), 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
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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 (e)(ii) or Subsection (e)(iv) below, the
Purchaser shall not be required to indemnify any person pursuant to this
Subsection (e) or to contribute pursuant to Subsection (e)(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(e), 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(e) provides for indemnification in 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(e); 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
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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.
(f) (i) With respect to the inclusion of Registrable Securities in a
registration statement pursuant to Subsection (b), 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 (f) 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.
(g) 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.
(h) 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.
(i) 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.
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(j) 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 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. 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.
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IN WITNESSES WHEREOF, the parties have entered into this Agreement as of
the date first set forth above.
TELESCAN, INC.
By: /s/ ROGER C. WADSWORTH
-----------------------------------------
Roger C. Wadsworth, Senior Vice President
GE CAPITAL EQUITY INVESTMENTS, INC.
By: /s/ TONY PANTUSO
-----------------------------------------
Tony Pantuso, Senior Vice President
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For Immediate Release Contact: David Brown, Telescan
281-588-9700
Or
Jeffrey Goldberger (IR), Stern & Co.
Dick Stern (Media), Stern & Co.
212-888-0044
Or
Robert Silverman, NBC Corporate
Communications
212-664-2756
Or
Marcy Brucellaria, GE Capital
203-961-2281
NBC AND GE CAPITAL BUY 9.9% OF OUTSTANDING STOCK OF TELESCAN TELESCAN IN
NEGOTIATIONS WITH NBC TO LICENSE TELESCAN TECHNOLOGY AND CONTENT
HOUSTON, January 15, Telescan (Nasdaq:TSCN) announced today that General
Electric's (NYSE: GE - news) NBC unit, in conjunction with its affiliate, GE
Capital's Equity Capital Group, have jointly purchased a private placement of
1,220,237 shares of newly issued Telescan common stock, representing 9.9% of the
outstanding shares in the Company. Telescan said that NBC and GE Capital
purchased the stock at $7.70 per share. The resale of the stock is restricted
under Rule 144, subject to delayed registration rights on one-half of the
shares.
Separately, Telescan said that it is in negotiations with NBC to license
Telescan's technology and portions of its investor content as well as provide
hosting services.
David Brown, Telescan's chairman and chief executive officer, said, "NBC's and
GE Capital's investment in Telescan and the strategic opportunities this
transaction presents, are major steps in the growth of Telescan as technology
evolves integrating computers, the Internet and television. The fact that NBC
and GE Capital have chosen this strong relationship with Telescan is an
affirmation of our superior Internet technology and the broad-based information
and analytics that we provide to investors."
Tom Rogers, president, NBC Cable and executive vice president, NBC, said: "NBC
is pleased to take an equity stake in Telescan, a leading-edge Internet
technology solutions and content company that has a tremendous upside for
growth."
Telescan, based in Houston, is an industry leader in providing innovative
solutions for online technology, data retrieval and Internet services. The
company develops and operates major online networks and Internet sites serving
the financial, publishing, entertainment and technology-transfer industries.
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Telescan provides individual investors with the most comprehensive suite of
search tools, technical analysis and financial data on the Internet, through its
own Wall Street City(R) (http://www.wallstreetcity.com) investor site and
customized private label web sites it develops and operates for major companies.
Wall Street City page impressions increased in the last month by 25% to more
than 15 million per month.
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, operates MSNBC in partnership with Microsoft,
and maintains equtiy interests in Arts & Entertainment, the History Channel, and
Rainbow Programming Holdings, a leading media company with a wide array of
entertainment and sports cable channels. Internationally, NBC owns and operates
CNBC: A service of NBC and Dow Jones in partnership with Dow Jones & Company in
Europe and Asia. Together with National Geographic Television, NBC owns National
Geographic Channels Worldwide (NGCW). In partnership with BskyB, NGCW operates
the National Geographic Channel in Europe. Its sister programming service,
National Geographic Channel Asia, is jointly owned by NBC and National
Geographic. NBC also operates NBC Europe in partnership with Deutsche
Fernsehnachrichten Agentur. NBC is the network leader in interactive and new
media businesses. Among its holdings are NBC.com, NBC Interactive Neighborhood
and VideoSeeker. The Company also has an equity stake in Snap, the Internet
portal service operated in partnership with CNET.
GE Capital, with assets of more than US$300 billion, is a global, diversified
financial services company with 28 specialized businesses. A wholly owned
subsidiary of General Electric Company, GE Capital, based in Stamford, CT,
provides equipment management, mid-market and specialized financing, specialty
insurance and a variety of consumer services, such as car leasing, home
mortgages and credit cards, to businesses and individuals around the world. GE
is a diversified manufacturing, technology and services company with operations
worldwide.
"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 obligations to
update the information in this release.
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