-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, T5RaTNAXjCdugDt70tTPilojXM4eqlNKDrvtDUsURgfA/Ab+fmQaLDs2donULfRy B80AUsHmPqVOWc9VvcS6vg== 0000950169-97-000350.txt : 19970429 0000950169-97-000350.hdr.sgml : 19970429 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950169-97-000350 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 3 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 19970430 ITEM INFORMATION: Other events ITEM INFORMATION: Financial statements and exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 19970428 SROS: NONE FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: HCIA INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000935001 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SERVICES-COMPUTER PROGRAMMING, DATA PROCESSING, ETC. [7370] IRS NUMBER: 521407998 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MD FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-25378 FILM NUMBER: 97588353 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 300 EAST LOMBARD ST CITY: BALTIMORE STATE: MD ZIP: 21202 BUSINESS PHONE: 4103327532 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 300 EAST LOMBARD ST CITY: BALTIMORE STATE: MD ZIP: 21202 8-K 1 HCIA INC. FORM 8-K 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): April 23, 1997 HCIA INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Maryland 0-25378 52-1407998 (State or other jurisdiction of (Commission (I.R.S. Employer incorporation) File Number) Identification No.) 300 East Lombard Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) (410) 895-7470 (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) N/A (Former name or former address, if changed since last report) Items 1-4. Not Applicable. Item 5. Other Events. On April 23, 1997, HCIA Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Company"), announced its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 1997. See the press release attached hereto as Exhibit 99 which is incorporated herein by reference. On April 23, 1997, the Board of Directors of the Company, declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a "Right") for each share of common stock, par value $0.01, outstanding on the close of business on April 24, 1997 (the "Record Date"), or issued thereafter and prior to the Separation Date (as hereinafter defined). The Rights will be issued pursuant to a Stockholder Rights Agreement, dated as of April 23, 1997 (the "Rights Agreement"), between the Company and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent. The terms of the Rights are summarized below. Each Right entitles its registered holder to purchase from the Company, after the Separation Date, one one-hundredth of a share of Class A Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, for $240 (the "Exercise Price"), subject to adjustment. The Rights will be evidenced by the Common Stock certificates until the close of business on the earlier of the date (either, the "Separation Date") which is (i) the tenth business day (or such later date as the Board of Directors of the Company may from time to time fix by resolution adopted prior to the Separation Date that would otherwise have occurred) after the date on which any Person (as defined in the Rights Agreement) commences a tender or exchange offer which, if consummated, would result in such Person's becoming an Acquiring Person, as defined below, or (ii) the tenth business day (or such earlier or later date as the Board of Directors of the Company may from time to time fix by resolution adopted prior to the Flip-in Date (as defined below) that would otherwise have occurred) after the first date of public announcement by the Company that such Person has become an Acquiring Person (the "Flip-in Date"); provided that if a tender or exchange offer referred to in clause (i) is canceled, terminated or otherwise withdrawn prior to the Separation Date without the purchase of any shares of stock pursuant thereto, such offer shall be deemed never to have been made. An Acquiring Person is any Person who is the Beneficial Owner (as defined in the Rights Agreement) of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, provided, however, such term shall not include (i) the Company, any wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company or any employee stock ownership or other employee benefit plan of the Company, (ii) any Person who is the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Stock solely as a result of an acquisition of Common Stock by the Company, until such time as such Person acquires additional Common Stock, other than through a dividend or stock split, (iii) any Person who becomes an Acquiring Person without any plan or intent to seek or affect control of the Company if that Person promptly divests sufficient securities so that such 15% or greater Beneficial Ownership ceases or (iv) any Person who beneficially owns shares of Common Stock 2 consisting solely of (A) shares acquired pursuant to the grant or exercise of an option granted by the Company in connection with an agreement to merge with, or acquire, the Company prior to a Flip-in Date, (B) shares owned by such Person and its Affiliates and Associates at the time of such grant (C) shares, amounting to less than 1% of the outstanding Common Stock, acquired by Affiliates and Associates of such Person after the time of such grant and (D) shares which are held by such Person in trust accounts, managed accounts and the like or otherwise held in a fiduciary capacity, that are beneficially owned by third persons who are not Affiliates or Associates of such Person or acting together with such Person to hold such shares, or which are held by such Person in respect of a debt previously contracted. The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Separation Date, the Rights will be transferred with and only with the Common Stock. Common Stock certificates issued prior to the Separation Date shall evidence one Right for each share of Common Stock represented thereby and shall contain a legend incorporating by reference the terms of the Rights Agreement (as such may be amended from time to time). Notwithstanding the absence of the aforementioned legend, certificates evidencing shares of Common Stock outstanding on or prior to April 23, 1997 shall also evidence one Right for each share of Common Stock evidenced thereby. Promptly following the Separation Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights ("Rights Certificates") will be mailed to holders of record of Common Stock at the Separation Date. The Rights will not be exercisable until the Business Day (as defined in the Rights Agreement) following the Separation Date. The Rights will expire on the earliest of (i) the Exchange Date (as defined below), (ii) the close of business on April 22, 2007, (iii) the date on which the Rights are redeemed as described below and (iv) upon the merger of the Company into another corporation pursuant to an agreement entered into prior to a Flip-in Date (the "Expiration Date"). The Exercise Price and the number of Rights outstanding, or in certain circumstances the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights, are subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution in the event of a Common Stock dividend on, or a subdivision or a combination into a smaller number of shares of, Common Stock, or the issuance or distribution of any securities or assets in respect of, in lieu of or in exchange for Common Stock. In the event that prior to the Expiration Date a Flip-in Date occurs, each Right (other than Rights Beneficially Owned by the Acquiring Person or any affiliate or associate thereof, which Rights shall become void) shall constitute the right to purchase from the Company, upon the exercise thereof in accordance with the terms of the Rights Agreement, that number of shares of Common Stock of the Company having an aggregate Market Price (as defined in the Rights Agreement), on the date of the public 3 announcement of an Acquiring Person's becoming such (the "Stock Acquisition Date") that gave rise to the Flip-in Date, equal to twice the Exercise Price for an amount in cash equal to the then current Exercise Price. In addition, the Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any time after a Flip-in Date and prior to the time an Acquiring Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, elect to exchange all (but not less than all) of the then outstanding Rights (other than Rights Beneficially Owned by the Acquiring Person or any affiliate or associate thereof, which Rights become void) for shares of Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the Separation Date (the "Exchange Ratio"). Immediately upon such action by the Board of Directors (the "Exchange Date"), the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and each Right will thereafter represent only the right to receive a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Exchange Ratio. If the Company shall become obligated under this paragraph to issue shares of Common Stock upon exercise of or in exchange for Rights, the Company, at its option, may substitute therefor shares of Preferred Stock, at a ratio of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock for each share of Common Stock so issuable. In the event that prior to the Expiration Date the Company enters into, consummates or permits to occur a transaction or series of transactions after the time an Acquiring Person has become such in which, directly or indirectly, (i) the Company shall consolidate or merge or participate in a binding share exchange with any other Person if, at the time of consolidation, merger or share exchange or at the time the Company enters into an agreement with respect to such consolidation, merger or share exchange, the Acquiring Person controls the Board of Directors of the Company (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and either (A) any term of or arrangement concerning the treatment of shares of capital stock in such merger, consolidation or share exchange relating to the Acquiring Person is not identical to the terms and arrangements relating to other holders of Common Stock or (B) the Person with whom the transaction or series of transactions occurs is the Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of the Acquiring Person or (ii) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more of its subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer) assets (A) aggregating more than 50% of the assets (measured by either book value or fair market value) or (B) generating more than 50% of the operating income or cash flow of the Company and its subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person (other than the Company or one or more of its wholly-owned subsidiaries) or to two or more such Persons which are affiliated or otherwise acting in concert, if, at the time of such sale or transfer of assets or at the time the Company (or any such subsidiary) enters into an agreement with respect to such sale or transfer, the Acquiring Person Controls the Board of Directors of the Company (a "Flip-over Transaction or Event"), the Company shall take such action as shall be necessary to ensure, and shall not enter into, consummate or permit to occur such Flip-over Transaction or Event until it shall have entered into a supplemental agreement with the Person engaging in such Flip-over 4 Transaction or Event or the parent corporation thereof (the "Flip-over Entity"), for the benefit of the holders of the Rights, providing, that upon consummation or occurrence of the Flip-over Transaction or Event (i) each Right shall thereafter constitute the right to purchase from the Flip-over Entity, upon exercise thereof in accordance with the terms of the Rights Agreement, that number of shares of common stock of the Flip-over Entity having an aggregate Market Price on the date of consummation or occurrence of such Flip-over Transaction or Event equal to twice the Exercise Price for an amount in cash equal to the then current Exercise Price and (ii) the Flip-over Entity shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such Flip-over Transaction or Event and such supplemental agreement, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to the Rights Agreement. For purposes of the foregoing description, the term "Acquiring Person" shall include any Acquiring Person and its Affiliates and Associates counted together as a single Person. The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any time prior to the close of business on the Flip-in Date, redeem all (but not less than all) of the then outstanding Rights at a price of $.01 per Right (the "Redemption Price"), as provided in the Rights Agreement. Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company electing to redeem the Rights, without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and each Right will thereafter represent only the right to receive the Redemption Price in cash. For so long as the Rights are redeemable, the Company may amend the Rights Agreement in any manner. After the Rights are no longer redeemable, the Company generally may, except with respect to the Redemption Price, amend the Rights Agreement in any manner that does not adversely affect the interests of holders of the Rights. The holders of Rights will, solely by reason of their ownership of Rights, have no rights as stockholders of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends. While the dividend of the Rights will not be taxable to stockholders or to the Company, stockholders or the Company may, depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become exercisable as set forth above. The Rights Agreement (which includes as Exhibit A the forms of Rights Certificate and Election to Exercise) is attached hereto as an exhibit and is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the Rights is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement and the exhibits thereto. Item 6. Not Applicable 5 Item 7. Exhibits. Exhibit No. Description - ----------- ----------- (4) Stockholder Rights Agreement dated as of April 23, 1997 between HCIA Inc. and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent. (99) Press release, dated April 23, 1997, issued by the Company. 6 SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized. HCIA INC. By: /s/ Charles A. Berardesco Charles A. Berardesco Senior Vice President and General Counsel Date: April 23, 1997 7 EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit No. Sequential Under Reg. Page Number S-K, Item 601 ----------- - ------------- (4) Stockholder Rights Agreement dated as of April 23, 1997 between HCIA Inc. and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent. (99) Press release, dated April 23, 1997, issued by the Company. 8 EX-4 2 EXHIBIT 4 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT dated as of April 23, 1997 between HCIA INC. and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C. as Rights Agent - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT Table of Contents Page ---- Article I DEFINITIONS Section 1.1 Definitions................................................ 2 Article II THE RIGHTS AGENT Section 2.1 General.................................................... 11 Section 2.2 Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent............................................ 12 Section 2.3 Duties of Rights Agent..................................... 13 Section 2.4 Change of Rights Agent..................................... 17 Article III THE RIGHTS Section 3.1 Summary of Rights.......................................... 18 Section 3.2 Legend on Common Stock Certificates........................ 19 Section 3.3 Exercise of Rights; Separation of Rights................... 19 Section 3.4 Adjustments to Exercise Price; Number of Rights............ 23 Section 3.5 Date on Which Exercise is Effective........................ 25 Section 3.6 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating of Rights Certificates........................................ 26 Section 3.7 Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange........ 26 Section 3.8 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Rights Certificates............................................ 28 Section 3.9 Persons Deemed Owners...................................... 29 Section 3.10 Delivery and Cancellation of Certificates.................. 30 Section 3.11 Agreement of Rights Holders................................ 30 Article IV ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RIGHTS IN THE EVENT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTION Section 4.1 Flip-in.................................................... 31 Section 4.2 Flip-over.................................................. 35 Article V MISCELLANEOUS Section 5.1 Redemption................................................. 36 Section 5.2 Expiration................................................. 37 Section 5.3 Issuance of New Rights Certificates........................ 38 Section 5.4 Supplements and Amendments................................. 39 Section 5.5 Fractional Shares.......................................... 39 Section 5.6 Rights of Action........................................... 39 Section 5.7 Rights Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder..................... 40 Section 5.8 Notice of Proposed Actions................................. 41 Section 5.9 Notices.................................................... 41 Section 5.10 Suspension of Exercisability............................... 42 Section 5.11 Costs of Enforcement....................................... 43 Section 5.12 Successors................................................. 43 Section 5.13 Benefits of this Agreement................................. 43 Section 5.14 Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc......................................... 43 Section 5.15 Severability............................................... 45 Section 5.16 Governing Law.............................................. 44 Section 5.17 Counterparts............................................... 44 Section 5.18 Descriptive Headings....................................... 44 ii EXHIBITS Exhibit A Form of Rights Certificate (Together with Form of Election to Exercise) Exhibit B Form of Articles Supplementary iii STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT ---------------------------- STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of April 23, 1997, between HCIA Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Company"), and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent," which term shall include any successor Rights Agent hereunder). The Board of Directors of the Company has authorized and declared a dividend of one right ("Right") in respect of each share of Common Stock (as hereinafter defined) held of record as of the close of business on April 24, 1997 (the "Record Date") and has further authorized the issuance of one Right in respect of each share of Common Stock issued after the Record Date and prior to the Separation Date (as hereinafter defined) and, to the extent provided in Section 5.3, each share of Common Stock issued after the Separation Date. Each Right entitles the holder thereof, after the Separation Date, to purchase securities of the Company (or, in certain cases, of certain other entities) pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein. Accordingly, in consideration of the premises and the respective agreements set forth herein, the parties hereby agree as follows: ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS 1.1 Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings indicated: "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who is a Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock; provided, however, that the term "Acquiring Person" shall not include any Person (i) who is the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock on the date of this Agreement or who shall become the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock solely as a result of an acquisition by the Company of shares of Common Stock, until such time hereafter or thereafter as any of such Persons shall become the Beneficial Owner (other than by means of a stock dividend or stock split) of any additional shares of Common Stock, (ii) who is the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock but who acquired Beneficial Ownership of shares of Common Stock without any plan or intention to seek or affect control of the Company, if such Person promptly enters into an irrevocable commitment promptly to divest, and thereafter promptly divests (without exercising or retaining any power, including voting, with respect to such shares), sufficient shares of Common Stock (or securities convertible into, exchangeable into or exercisable for Common Stock) so that such Person ceases to be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or (iii) who Beneficially Owns shares of 2 Common Stock consisting solely of one or more of (A) shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned pursuant to the grant or exercise of an option granted to such Person by the Company in connection with an agreement to merge with, or acquire, the Company entered into prior to a Flip-in Date, (B) shares of Common Stock (or securities convertible into, exchangeable into or exercisable for Common Stock) Beneficially Owned by such Person or its Affiliates or Associates at the time of grant of such option, (C) shares of Common Stock (or securities convertible into, exchangeable into or exercisable for Common Stock) acquired by Affiliates or Associates of such Person after the time of such grant which, in the aggregate, amount to less than 1% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and (D) shares of Common Stock (or securities convertible into, exchangeable into or exercisable for Common Stock) which are held by such Person in trust accounts, managed accounts and the like or otherwise held in a fiduciary capacity, that are beneficially owned by third persons who are not Affiliates or Associates of such Person or acting together with such Person to hold such shares, or which are held by such Person in respect of a debt previously contracted. In addition, the Company, any wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company and any employee stock ownership or other employee benefit plan of the Company or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company shall not be an Acquiring Person. "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), as such Rule is in effect on the date of this Agreement. 3 A Person shall be deemed to be the "Beneficial Owner," and to have "Beneficial Ownership" of, and to "Beneficially Own," any securities as to which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates is or may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of pursuant to Rule 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, as such Rules are in effect on the date of this Agreement, as well as any securities as to which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates has the right to become Beneficial Owner (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time or the occurrence of conditions) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights (other than the Rights), warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed to be the "Beneficial Owner," or to have "Beneficial Ownership" of, or to "Beneficially Own," any security (i) solely because such security has been tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such tendered security is accepted for payment or exchange or (ii) solely because such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates has or shares the power to vote or direct the voting of such security pursuant to a revocable proxy given in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made to more than ten holders of shares of a class of stock of the Company registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act and pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, except if such power (or the arrangements relating thereto) is then reportable under Item 6 of Schedule 13D 4 under the Exchange Act (or any similar provision of a comparable or successor report). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no officer or director of the Company shall be deemed to Beneficially Own any securities of any other Person by virtue of any actions such officer or director takes in such capacity. For purposes of this Agreement, in determining the percentage of the outstanding shares of Common Stock with respect to which a Person is the Beneficial Owner, all shares as to which such Person is deemed the Beneficial Owner shall be deemed outstanding. "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in Baltimore, Maryland are generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close. "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 p.m. Baltimore, Maryland time on such date (or, if such date is not a Business Day, 5:00 p.m. Baltimore, Maryland time on the next succeeding Business Day). "Common Stock" shall mean the shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company. "Disinterested Director" shall mean any member of the Board of Directors of the Company, while such Person is a member of the board, who is not (i) an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, or a representative of an Acquiring Person or of any such Affiliate or Associate, or (ii) a Person, or an Affiliate, Associate, or representative of a Person, any of whom has stated 5 an intent to take, or to consider taking, any action which would result in such Person becoming an Acquiring Person, or which would cause a Flip-over Transaction or Event. "Exchange Date" shall mean the time at which the right to exercise the Rights shall terminate pursuant to Section 4.1(c) hereof. "Exercise Price" shall mean, as of any date, the price at which a holder may purchase the securities issuable upon exercise of one whole Right. Until adjustment thereof in accordance with the terms hereof, the Exercise Price shall equal $240. "Expiration Date" shall mean the earliest of (i) the Exchange Date, (ii) the Redemption Date, (iii) April 22, 2007 or (iv) upon the merger of the Company into another corporation pursuant to an agreement entered into prior to a Flip-in Date. "Flip-in Date" shall mean the tenth business day after any Stock Acquisition Date or such earlier or later date as the Board of Directors of the Company may from time to time fix by resolution adopted prior to the Flip-in Date that would otherwise have occurred. "Flip-over Entity", for purposes of Section 4.2, shall mean (x) in the case of a Flip-over Transaction or Event described in clause (i) of the definition thereof, the Person issuing any securities into which shares of Common Stock are being converted or exchanged and, if no such securities are being issued, the other party to such Flip-over Transaction or Event and (y) in the case of a Flip-over Transaction or Event referred to in clause (ii) of the definition thereof, the Person receiving the greatest portion of the assets or earning power being transferred in such Flip-over Transaction 6 or Event, provided in all cases if such Person is a subsidiary of a corporation, the parent corporation shall be the Flip-over Entity. "Flip-over Stock" shall mean the capital stock (or similar equity interest) with the greatest voting power in respect of the election of directors (or other persons similarly responsible for direction of the business and affairs) of the Flip-over Entity. "Flip-over Transaction or Event" shall mean a transaction or series of transactions after a Flip-in Date in which, directly or indirectly, (i) the Company shall consolidate or merge or participate in a share exchange with any other Person if, at the time of the consolidation, merger or share exchange or at the time the Company enters into any agreement with respect to any such consolidation, merger or share exchange, the Acquiring Person Controls the Board of Directors of the Company and either (A) any term of or arrangement concerning the treatment of shares of capital stock in such consolidation, merger or share exchange relating to the Acquiring Person is not identical to the terms and arrangements relating to other holders of the Common Stock or (B) the Person with whom the transaction or series of transactions occurs is the Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of the Acquiring Person or (ii) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer) assets (A) aggregating more than 50% of the assets (measured by either book value or fair market value) or (B) generating more than 50% of the operating income or cash flow of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any Person (other than the Company or one or more of its wholly owned 7 Subsidiaries) or to two or more such Persons which are Affiliates or Associates or otherwise acting in concert, if, at the time of the entry by the Company (or any such Subsidiary) into an agreement with respect to such sale or transfer of assets, the Acquiring Person Controls the Board of Directors of the Company. An Acquiring Person shall be deemed to Control the Company's Board of Directors when, following a Flip-in Date, the persons who were directors of the Company before the Flip-in Date shall cease to constitute a majority of the Company's Board of Directors. "Market Price" per share of any securities on any date shall mean the average of the daily closing prices per share of such securities (determined as described below) on each of the 20 consecutive Trading Days through and including the Trading Day immediately preceding such date; provided, however, that if an event of a type analogous to any of the events described in Section 3.4 hereof shall have caused the closing prices used to determine the Market Price on any Trading Days during such period of 20 Trading Days not to be fully comparable with the closing price on such date, each such closing price so used shall be appropriately adjusted in order to make it fully comparable with the closing price on such date. The closing price per share of any securities on any date shall be the last reported sale price, or, in case no sale takes place or is quoted on such date, the average of the closing bid and asked prices for each share of such securities, in either case as reported by the Nasdaq National Market or, if the securities are not quoted on the Nasdaq National Market, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the 8 principal national securities exchange on which the securities are listed or admitted to trading or, if the securities are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange or national market system, as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System or such other system then in use, or, if on any such date the securities are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange or national market system or quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the securities selected by the Board of Directors of the Company; provided, however, that if on any such date the securities are not listed or admitted to trading on a national securities exchange or national market system or traded in the over-the-counter market, the closing price per share of such securities on such date shall mean the fair value per share of securities on such date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, after consultation with a nationally recognized investment banking firm, and set forth in a certificate delivered to the Rights Agent. "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, partnership, association, group (as such term is used in Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, as such Rule is in effect on the date of this Agreement), corporation or other entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity. 9 "Preferred Stock" shall mean the series of Class A Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company created by Articles Supplementary in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto appropriately completed. "Redemption Price" shall mean an amount equal to $0.01. "Redemption Date" shall mean the time at which the right to exercise the Rights shall terminate pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof. "Separation Date" shall mean the close of business on the earlier of (i) the tenth business day (or such later date as the Board of Directors of the Company may from time to time fix by resolution adopted prior to the Separation Date that would otherwise have occurred) after the date on which any Person commences a tender or exchange offer which, if consummated, would result in such Person's becoming an Acquiring Person and (ii) the Flip-in Date; provided, that if the foregoing results in the Separation Date being prior to the Record Date, the Separation Date shall be the Record Date and provided further, that if any tender or exchange offer referred to in clause (i) of this paragraph is cancelled, terminated or otherwise withdrawn prior to the Separation Date without the purchase of any shares of Common Stock pursuant thereto, such offer shall be deemed, for purposes of this paragraph, never to have been made. "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the day of the first public announcement by the Company (by any means) that an Acquiring Person has become such. 10 "Subsidiary" of any specified Person shall mean any corporation or other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the equity securities or a majority of the equity interest is Beneficially Owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person. "Trading Day," when used with respect to any securities, shall mean a day on which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. is open for the transaction of business or, if such securities are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., a day on which the principal national securities exchange on which such securities are listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if such securities are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day. ARTICLE II THE RIGHTS AGENT 2.1 General. (a) The Company hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and other disbursements incurred in the administration and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the 11 part of the Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted to be done by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and administration of this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending against any claim of liability. (b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection with its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any certificate for securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights, Rights Certificate, certificate for other securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement, or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper person or persons. 2.2 Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent. (a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent is a party, or any corporation succeeding to the shareholder services business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, provided that such corporation would be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 2.4 hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent succeeds to the agency created by this 12 Agreement any of the Rights Certificates have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights Certificates have not been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Rights Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates will have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement. (b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent is changed and at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement. 2.3 Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound: 13 (a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel will be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion. (b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the Rights Agent deems it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by a person believed by the Rights Agent to be the Chairman of the Board, the President or any Senior Vice President or the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate will be full authorization to the Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate. (c) The Rights Agent will be liable hereunder only for its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct. (d) The Rights Agent will not be liable for or by reason of any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the certificates for securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights or the Rights Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be required to verify the same, but all such statements and recitals are and will be deemed to have been made by the Company only. 14 (e) The Rights Agent will not be under any responsibility in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the due authorization, execution and delivery hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the validity or execution of any certificate for securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights or Rights Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor will it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Rights Certificate; nor will it be responsible for any change in the exercisability of the Rights (including the Rights becoming void pursuant to Section 4.1(b) hereof) or any adjustment required under the provisions of Section 3.4, 4.1 or 4.2 hereof or responsible for the manner, method or amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights after receipt of the certificate contemplated by Section 3.4 describing any such adjustment); nor will it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization of any Rights or the reservation of any securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights, or as to whether any securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights will, when issued, be duly and validly authorized, executed, issued and delivered and fully paid and nonassessable. (f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required by 15 the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of the provisions of this Agreement. (g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from any person believed by the Rights Agent to be the Chairman of the Board, the President or any Senior Vice President or the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company, and to apply to such persons for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of any such person. (h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in Common Stock, Rights or other securities of the Company or become interested in any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity. (i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent will not be answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or agents or for any loss to 16 the Company resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct, provided reasonable care was exercised in the selection and continued employment thereof. 2.4 Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement upon 90 days' notice (or such lesser notice as is acceptable to the Company) in writing mailed to the Company and to the transfer agent for the Common Stock by registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the Rights in accordance with Section 5.9. The Company may remove the Rights Agent upon 30 days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent and to the transfer agent for the Common Stock by registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the Rights in accordance with Section 5.9. If the Rights Agent should resign or be removed or otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company will appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company fails to make such appointment within a period of 30 days after such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights (which holder shall, with such notice, submit such holder's Rights Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Rights may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of the State of Maryland or any other State of the United States, in good standing, which is authorized under such laws to exercise the powers of the Rights Agent contemplated by 17 this Agreement and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and which has at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent will be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment, the Company will file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Stock, and mail a notice thereof in writing to the holders of the Rights. Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 4.4, however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be. ARTICLE III THE RIGHTS 3.1 Summary of Rights. As soon as practicable after the Record Date, the Company will mail a letter summarizing the terms of the Rights to each holder of record of Common Stock as of the Record Date, at such holder's address as shown by the records of the Company. 18 3.2 Legend on Common Stock Certificates. Certificates for the Common Stock issued after the Record Date but prior to the Separation Date shall evidence one Right for each share of Common Stock represented thereby and shall have impressed on, printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them the following legend: Until the Separation Date (as defined in the Rights Agreement referred to below), this certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to certain Rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement, dated as of April 30, 1997 (as such may be amended from time to time, the "Rights Agreement"), between HCIA Inc. (the "Company") and Chemical Mellon Shareholder Services, as Rights Agent, the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal executive offices of the Company. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights may be redeemed, may become exercisable for securities or assets of the Company or of another entity, may be exchanged for shares of Common Stock or other securities or assets of the Company, may expire, may become void (if they are "Beneficially Owned" by an "Acquiring Person" or an Affiliate or Associate thereof, as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement, or by any transferee of any of the foregoing) or may be evidenced by separate certificates and may no longer be evidenced by this certificate. The Company will mail or arrange for the mailing of a copy of the Rights Agreement to the holder of this certificate without charge promptly after the receipt of a written request therefor. Certificates representing shares of Common Stock that are issued and outstanding at the Record Date shall evidence one Right for each share of Common Stock evidenced thereby notwithstanding the absence of the foregoing legend. 3.3 Exercise of Rights: Separation of Rights. (a) Subject to Sections 4.1, 5.1 and 5.10 and subject to adjustment as herein set forth, each Right will entitle the holder thereof, after the Separation Date and 19 prior to the Expiration Date, to purchase, for the Exercise Price, one one- hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock. (b) Until the Separation Date, (i) no Right may be exercised and (ii) each Right will be evidenced by the certificate for the associated share of Common Stock (together, in the case of certificates issued prior to the Record Date, with the letter mailed to the record holder thereof pursuant to Section 3.1) and will be transferable only together with, and will be transferred by a transfer (whether with or without such letter) of, such associated share. (c) Subject to this Section 3.3 and to Sections 4.1, 5.1 and 5.10, after the Separation Date and prior to the Expiration Date, the Rights (i) may be exercised and (ii) may be transferred independent of shares of Common Stock. Promptly following the Separation Date, the Rights Agent will mail to each holder of record of Common Stock as of the Separation Date (other than any Person whose Rights have become void pursuant to Section 4.1(b)), at such holder's address as shown by the records of the Company (the Company hereby agreeing to furnish copies of such records to the Rights Agent for this purpose), (x) a certificate (a "Rights Certificate") in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto appropriately completed, representing the number of Rights held by such holder at the Separation Date and having such marks of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or 20 regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any national securities exchange or quotation system on which the Rights may from time to time be listed or traded, or to conform to usage, and (y) a disclosure statement describing the Rights. (d) Subject to Sections 4.1, 5.1 and 5.10, Rights may be exercised on any Business Day after the Separation Date and prior to the Expiration Date by submitting to the Rights Agent the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights with an Election to Exercise (an "Election to Exercise") substantially in the form attached to the Rights Certificate duly completed, accompanied by payment in cash, or by certified or official bank check or money order payable to the order of the Company, of a sum equal to the Exercise Price multiplied by the number of Rights being exercised and a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or charge which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates or the issuance or delivery of certificates for shares or depositary receipts (or both) in a name other than that of the holder of the Rights being exercised. (e) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate, with an Election to Exercise accompanied by payment as set forth in Section 3.3(d), and subject to Sections 4.1, 5.1 and 5.10, the Rights Agent will thereupon promptly (i)(A) request stock certificates evidencing such number of shares or other securities to be purchased (the Company hereby irrevocably authorizing its transfer agent to comply with all such requisitions) and (B) if the Company elects pursuant to Section 5.5 not to issue certificates 21 representing fractional shares, request depositary receipts representing the fractional shares to be purchased or request the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of fractional shares in accordance with Section 5.5 and (ii) after receipt of such certificates, depositary receipts and/or cash, deliver the same to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered (in the case of certificates or depositary receipts) in such name or names as may be designated by such holder. (f) In case the holder of any Rights shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced by such holder's Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate evidencing the Rights remaining unexercised will be issued by the Rights Agent to such holder or to such holder's duly authorized assigns. (g) The Company covenants and agrees that it will (i) take all such action as may be necessary to ensure that all shares delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for such shares (subject to payment of the Exercise Price), be duly and validly authorized, executed, issued and delivered and fully paid and nonassessable; (ii) take all such action as may be necessary to comply with any applicable requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules and regulations thereunder, and any other applicable law, rule or regulation, in connection with the issuance of any shares upon exercise of Rights; and (iii) pay when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges which may be payable in respect of the original issuance or delivery of the Rights Certificates or of any shares issued upon the exercise of Rights, 22 provided that the Company shall not be required to pay any transfer tax or charge which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates or the issuance or delivery of certificates for shares in a name other than that of the holder of the Rights being transferred or exercised. 3.4 Adjustments to Exercise Price; Number of Rights. (a) In the event the Company shall at any time after the Record Date and prior to the Separation Date (i) declare or pay a dividend on Common Stock payable in Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares of Common Stock, (x) the Exercise Price in effect after such adjustment will be equal to the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment divided by the number of shares of Common Stock (the "Adjustment Factor") that a holder of one share of Common Stock immediately prior to such dividend, subdivision or combination would hold thereafter as a result thereof and (y) each Right held prior to such adjustment will become that number of Rights equal to the Adjustment Factor, and the adjusted number of Rights will be deemed to be distributed among the shares of Common Stock with respect to which the original Rights were associated (if they remain outstanding) and the shares issued in respect of such dividend, subdivision or combination, so that each such share of Common Stock will have exactly one Right associated with it. Each adjustment made pursuant to this paragraph shall be made as of the payment or effective date for the applicable dividend, subdivision or combination. 23 In the event the Company shall at any time after the Record Date and prior to the Separation Date issue any shares of Common Stock otherwise than in a transaction referred to in the preceding paragraph, each such share of Common Stock so issued shall automatically have one new Right associated with it, which Right shall be evidenced by the certificate representing such share. To the extent provided in Section 5.3, Rights shall be issued by the Company in respect of shares of Common Stock that are issued or sold by the Company after the Separation Date. (b) In the event the Company shall at any time after the Record Date and prior to the Separation Date issue or distribute any securities or assets in respect of, in lieu of or in exchange for Common Stock (other than pursuant to a regular periodic cash dividend or a dividend paid solely in Common Stock) whether by dividend, in a reclassification or recapitalization (including any such transaction involving a merger, consolidation or share exchange), or otherwise, the Company shall make such adjustments, if any, in the Exercise Price, number of Rights and/or securities or other property purchasable upon exercise of Rights as the Board of Directors of the Company, in its sole discretion, may deem to be appropriate under the circumstances in order to adequately protect the interests of the holders of Rights generally, and the Company and the Rights Agent shall amend this Agreement as necessary to provide for such adjustments. (c) Each adjustment to the Exercise Price made pursuant to this Section 3.4 shall be calculated to the nearest cent. Whenever an adjustment to the Exercise Price 24 is made pursuant to this Section 3.4, the Company shall promptly (i) prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment and (ii) file with the Rights Agent and with the transfer agent for the Common Stock a copy of such certificate. (d) Rights certificates shall represent the securities purchasable under the terms of this Agreement, including any adjustment or change in the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights, even though such certificates may continue to express the securities purchasable at the time of issuance of the initial Rights Certificates. 3.5 Date on Which Exercise is Effective. Each person in whose name any certificate for shares is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the shares represented thereby on the date upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Exercise Price for such Rights (and any applicable taxes and other governmental charges payable by the exercising holder hereunder) was made; provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the stock transfer books of the Company are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such shares on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the stock transfer books of the Company are open. 25 3.6 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating of Rights Certificates. (a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, President or one of its Senior Vice Presidents, under its corporate seal reproduced thereon attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these officers on the Rights Certificates may be manual or facsimile. Rights Certificates bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the countersignature and delivery of such Rights Certificates. Promptly after the Separation Date, the Company will notify the Rights Agent of such Separation Date and will deliver Rights Certificates executed by the Company to the Rights Agent for countersignature, and, subject to Section 4.1(b), the Rights Agent shall manually countersign and deliver such Rights Certificates to the holders of the Rights pursuant to Section 3.3(c) hereof. No Rights Certificate shall be valid for any purpose unless manually countersigned by the Rights Agent. (b) Each Rights Certificate shall be dated the date of countersignature thereof. 3.7 Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange. (a) After the Separation Date, the Company will cause to be kept a register (the "Rights Register") in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company will 26 provide for the registration and transfer of Rights. The Rights Agent is hereby appointed "Rights Registrar" for the purpose of maintaining the Rights Register for the Company and registering Rights and transfers of Rights after the Separation Date as herein provided. In the event that the Rights Agent shall cease to be the Rights Registrar, the Rights Agent will have the right to examine the Rights Register at all reasonable times after the Separation Date. After the Separation Date and prior to the Expiration Date, upon surrender for registration of transfer or exchange of any Rights Certificate, and subject to the provisions of this Section 3.7(c) and (d), the Company will execute, and the Rights Agent will countersign and deliver, in the name of the holder or the designated transferee or transferees, as required pursuant to the holder's instructions, one or more new Rights Certificates evidencing the same aggregate number of Rights as did the Rights Certificate so surrendered. (b) Except as otherwise provided in Section 4.1(b), all Rights issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Rights Certificates shall be the valid obligations of the Company, and such Rights shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Agreement as the Rights surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange. (c) Every Rights Certificate surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company or the Rights Agent, as the case may be, duly 27 executed by the holder thereof or such holder's attorney duly authorized in writing. As a condition to the issuance of any new Rights Certificate under this Section 3.7, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto. (d) The Company shall not be required to register the transfer or exchange of any Rights after such Rights have become void under Section 4.1(b), been exchanged under Section 4.1(c) or been redeemed or terminated under Section 5.1. 3.8 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Rights Certificates. (a) If any mutilated Rights Certificate is surrendered to the Rights Agent prior to the Expiration Date, then, subject to Sections 4.1(b), 4.1(c) and 5.1, the Company shall execute and the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver in exchange therefor a new Rights Certificate evidencing the same number of Rights as did the Rights Certificate so surrendered. (b) If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Rights Agent prior to the Expiration Date (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Rights Certificate and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to hold each of them and any of their agents harmless, then, subject to Sections 4.1(b), 4.1(c) and 5.1 and in the absence of notice to the Company or the Rights Agent that such Rights Certificate has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate 28 evidencing the same number of Rights as did the Rights Certificate so destroyed, lost or stolen. (c) As a condition to the issuance of any new Rights Certificate under this Section 3.8, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Rights Agent) connected therewith. (d) Every new Rights Certificate issued pursuant to this Section 3.8 in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate shall evidence an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and, subject to Section 4.1(b), shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Agreement equally and proportionately with any and all other Rights duly issued hereunder. 3.9 Persons Deemed Owners. Prior to due presentment of a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Separation Date, the associated Common Stock certificate) for registration of transfer, the Company, the Rights Agent and any agent of the Company or the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name such Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Separation Date, such Common Stock certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby for all purposes whatsoever, including the payment of the Redemption Price and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. As used in this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, the term "holder" of any 29 Rights shall mean the registered holder of such Rights (or, prior to the Separation Date, the associated shares of Common Stock). 3.10 Delivery and Cancellation of Certificates. All Rights Certificates surrendered upon exercise or for registration of transfer or exchange shall, if surrendered to any person other than the Rights Agent, be delivered to the Rights Agent and, in any case, shall be promptly cancelled by the Rights Agent. The Company may at any time deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation any Rights Certificates previously countersigned and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Rights Certificates so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Rights Agent. No Rights Certificates shall be countersigned in lieu of or in exchange for any Rights Certificates cancelled as provided in this Section 3.10, except as expressly permitted by this Agreement. The Rights Agent shall return all cancelled Rights Certificates to the Company. 3.11 Agreement of Rights Holders. Every holder of Rights by accepting the same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and with every other holder of Rights that: (a) prior to the Separation Date, each Right will be transferable only together with, and will be transferred by a transfer of, the associated share of Common Stock; (b) after the Separation Date, the Rights Certificates will be transferable only on the Rights Register as provided herein; 30 (c) prior to due presentment of a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Separation Date, the associated Common Stock certificate) for registration of transfer, the Company, the Rights Agent and any agent of the Company or the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name the Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Separation Date, the associated Common Stock certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary; (d) Rights beneficially owned by certain Persons will, under the circumstances set forth in Section 4.1(b), become void; and (e) this Agreement may be supplemented or amended from time to time pursuant to Section 3.4(b) or 5.4 hereof. ARTICLE IV ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RIGHTS IN THE EVENT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS 4.1 Flip-in. (a) In the event that prior to the Expiration Date a Flip-in Date shall occur, except as provided in this Section 4.1, each Right shall constitute the right to purchase from the Company, upon exercise thereof in accordance with the terms hereof (but subject to Section 5.10), that number of shares of Common Stock having an aggregate Market Price on the Stock Acquisition Date equal to twice the Exercise Price for an amount in cash equal to the Exercise Price (such right to be 31 appropriately adjusted in order to protect the interests of the holders of Rights generally in the event that on or after such Stock Acquisition Date an event of a type analogous to any of the events described in Section 3.4(a) or (b) shall have occurred with respect to the Common Stock). (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Rights that are or were Beneficially Owned on or after the Stock Acquisition Date by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof or by any transferee, direct or indirect, of any of the foregoing shall become void and any holder of such Rights (including transferees) shall thereafter have no right to exercise or transfer such Rights under any provision of this Agreement. If any Rights Certificate is presented for assignment or exercise and the Person presenting the same will not complete the certification set forth at the end of the form of assignment or notice of election to exercise and provide such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner and its Affiliates and Associates (or former Beneficial Owners and their Affiliates and Associates) as the Company shall reasonably request, then the Company shall be entitled conclusively to deem the Beneficial Owner thereof to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof or a transferee of any of the foregoing and accordingly will deem the Rights evidenced thereby to be void and not transferable or exercisable. (c) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any time after a Flip-in Date and prior to the time that an Acquiring Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, elect to 32 exchange all (but not less than all) of the then outstanding Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.1(b)) for shares of Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted in order to protect the interests of holders of Rights generally in the event that after the Separation Date an event of a type analogous to any of the events described in Section 3.4(a) or (b) shall have occurred with respect to the Common Stock (such exchange ratio, as adjusted from time to time, being hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Ratio"). Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company electing to exchange the Rights, without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and each Right (other than Rights that have become void pursuant to Section 4.1(b)) will thereafter represent only the right to receive a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Exchange Ratio. Promptly after the action of the Board of Directors electing to exchange the Rights, the Company shall give notice thereof (specifying the steps to be taken to receive shares of Common Stock in exchange for Rights) to the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights (other than Rights that have become void pursuant to Section 4.1(b)) Outstanding immediately prior thereto by mailing such notice in accordance with Section 5.9. Each Person in whose name any certificate for shares is issued upon the exchange of Rights pursuant to this Section 4.1(c) or Section 4.1(d) shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the shares represented thereby on, 33 and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of any applicable taxes and other governmental charges payable by the holder was made; provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the stock transfer books of the Company are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such shares on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the stock transfer books of the Company are open. (d) Whenever the Company shall become obligated under Section 4.1(a) or (c) to issue shares of Common Stock upon exercise of or in exchange for Rights, the Company, at its option, may substitute therefor shares of Preferred Stock, at a ratio of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock for each share of Common Stock so issuable. (e) In the event that there shall not be sufficient authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock of the Company to permit the exercise or exchange in full of the Rights in accordance with Section 4.1(a) or (c), the Company shall either (i) call a meeting of stockholders seeking approval to cause sufficient additional shares to be authorized (provided that if such approval is not obtained the Company will take the action specified in clause (ii) of this sentence) or (ii) take such action as shall be necessary to ensure and provide, to the extent permitted by applicable law and any agreements or instruments in effect on the Stock Acquisition Date to which it is a party, that each Right shall thereafter constitute the right to receive, 34 (x) at the Company's option, either (A) in return for the Exercise Price, debt or equity securities or other assets (or a combination thereof) having a fair value equal to twice the Exercise Price, or (B) without payment of consideration (except as otherwise required by applicable law), debt or equity securities or other assets (or a combination thereof) having a fair value equal to the Exercise Price, or (y) if the Board of Directors of the Company elects to exchange the Rights in accordance with Section 3.1(c), debt or equity securities or other assets (or a combination thereof) having a fair value equal to the product of the Market Price of a share of Common Stock on the Flip-in Date times the Exchange Ratio in effect on the Flip-in Date, where in any case set forth in (x) or (y) above the fair value of such debt or equity securities or other assets shall be as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, after consultation with a nationally recognized investment banking firm. 4.2 Flip-over. (a) Prior to the Expiration Date, the Company shall not enter into any agreement with respect to, consummate or permit to occur any Flip-over Transaction or Event unless and until it shall have entered into a supplemental agreement with the Flip-over Entity, for the benefit of the holders of the Rights, providing that, upon consummation or occurrence of the Flip-over Transaction or Event (i) each Right shall thereafter constitute the right to purchase from the Flip-over Entity, upon exercise thereof in accordance with the terms hereof, that number of shares of Flip-over Stock of the Flip-over Entity having an aggregate Market Price on the date of consummation or occurrence of such Flip-over Transaction or Event equal to twice the 35 Exercise Price for an amount in cash equal to the Exercise Price (such right to be appropriately adjusted in order to protect the interests of the holders of Rights generally in the event that after such date of consummation or occurrence an event of a type analogous to any of the events described in Section 3.4(a) or (b) shall have occurred with respect to the Flip-over Stock) and (ii) the Flip-over Entity shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such Flip-over Transaction or Event and such supplemental agreement, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement. The provisions of this Section 4.2 shall apply to successive Flip-over Transactions or Events. (b) Prior to the Expiration Date, unless the Rights will be redeemed pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof in connection therewith, the Company shall not enter into any agreement with respect to, consummate or permit to occur any Flip-over Transaction or Event if at the time thereof there are any rights, warrants or securities outstanding or any other arrangements, agreements or instruments that would eliminate or otherwise diminish in any material respect the benefits intended to be afforded by this Rights Agreement to the holders of Rights upon consummation of such transaction. ARTICLE V MISCELLANEOUS 5.1 Redemption. (a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, by a vote which includes the concurrence, by affirmative vote, of a majority 36 of the Disinterested Directors, at any time prior to the close of business on the Flip-in Date, elect to redeem all (but not less than all) of the then outstanding Rights at the Redemption Price and the Company, at its option, may pay the Redemption Price either in cash or shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company deemed by the Board of Directors, by a vote which includes the concurrence, by affirmative vote, of a majority of the Disinterested Directors, in the exercise of its sole discretion, to be at least equivalent in value to the Redemption Price. (b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company electing to redeem the Rights (or, if the resolution of the Board of Directors electing to redeem the Rights states that the redemption will not be effective until the occurrence of a specified future time or event, upon the occurrence of such future time or event), without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and each Right will thereafter represent only the right to receive the Redemption Price in cash or securities, as determined by the Board of Directors. Promptly after the Rights are redeemed, the Company shall give notice of such redemption to the Rights Agent and the holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing such notice in accordance with Section 5.9. 5.2 Expiration. The Rights and this Agreement shall expire at the Expiration Date and no Person shall have any rights pursuant to this Agreement or any Right after the Expiration Date, except, if the Rights are exchanged or redeemed, as provided in Section 3.1 or 5.1 hereof. 37 5.3 Issuance of New Rights Certificates. Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change in the number or kind or class of shares of stock purchasable upon exercise of Rights made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection with the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock by the Company following the Separation Date and prior to the Expiration Date pursuant to the terms of securities convertible or redeemable into shares of Common Stock or to options, in each case issued or granted prior to, and outstanding at, the Separation Date, the Company shall issue to the holders of such shares of Common Stock, Rights Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection with the issuance or sale of such shares of Common Stock; provided, however, in each case, (i) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued, if, and to the extent that, the Company shall be advised by counsel that such issuance would create a significant risk of material adverse tax consequences to the Company or to the Person to whom such Rights Certificates would be issued, (ii) no such Rights Certificates shall be issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate adjustment shall have otherwise been made in lieu of the issuance thereof, and (iii) the Company shall have no obligation to distribute Rights Certificates to any Acquiring Person or Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person or any transferee of any of the foregoing. 38 5.4 Supplements and Amendments. The Company and the Rights Agent may from time to time supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of Rights (i) prior to the close of business on the Flip-in Date, in any respect and (ii) after the close of business on the Flip-in Date, to make any changes that the Company may deem necessary or desirable and which shall not materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights generally or in order to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein which may be inconsistent with any other provisions herein or otherwise defective. The Rights Agent will duly execute and deliver any supplement or amendment hereto requested by the Company which satisfies the terms of the preceding sentence. 5.5 Fractional Shares. If the Company elects not to issue certificates representing fractional shares upon exercise or redemption of Rights, the Company shall, in lieu thereof, in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors, either (a) evidence such fractional shares by depositary receipts issued pursuant to an appropriate agreement between the Company and a depositary selected by it, providing that each holder of a depositary receipt shall have all of the rights, privileges and preferences to which such holder would be entitled as a beneficial owner of such fractional share, or (b) sell such shares on behalf of the holders of Rights and pay to the registered holders of such Rights the appropriate fraction of price per share received upon such sale. 5.6 Rights of Action. Subject to the terms of this Agreement (including Section 4.1(b)), rights of action in respect of this Agreement, other than rights of action 39 vested solely in the Rights Agent, are vested in the respective holders of the Rights; and any holder of any Rights, without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Rights, may, on such holder's own behalf and for such holder's own benefit and the benefit of other holders of Rights, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, such holder's right to exercise such holder's Rights in the manner provided in such holder's Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement and will be entitled to specific performance of the obligations under, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations of, the obligations of any Person subject to this Agreement. 5.7 Rights Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No holder, as such, of any Rights shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of shares or any other securities which may at any time be issuable on the exercise of such Rights, nor shall anything contained herein or in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Rights, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in Section 5.8 hereof), or to receive dividends 40 or subscription rights, or otherwise, until such Rights shall have been exercised or exchanged in accordance with the provisions hereof. 5.8 Notice of Proposed Actions. In case the Company shall propose after the Separation Date and prior to the Expiration Date (i) to effect or permit occurrence of any Flip-over Transaction or Event or (ii) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, then, in each such case, the Company shall give to each holder of a Right, in accordance with Section 5.9 hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the date on which such Flip-over Transaction or Event, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place, and such notice shall be so given at least 20 Business Days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action. 5.9 Notices. Notices or demands authorized or required by this Agreement to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if delivered or sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Rights Agent) as follows: HCIA Inc. 300 East Lombard Street Baltimore, Maryland 21202 Attention: Secretary and General Counsel Any notice or demand authorized or required by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Rights to or on the Rights Agent shall be 41 sufficiently given or made if delivered or sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Company) as follows: ChaseMellon Shareholder Services 8306 Mills Drive Suite 560 Miami, Florida 33183 Notices or demands authorized or required by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or the Rights Agent to or on the holder of any Rights shall be sufficiently given or made if delivered or sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as it appears upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Separation Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common Stock. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. 5.10 Suspension of Exercisability. To the extent that the Company determines in good faith that some action will or need be taken pursuant to Section 4.1 or to comply with federal or state securities laws, the Company may suspend the exercisability of the Rights for a reasonable period in order to take such action or comply with such laws. In the event of any such suspension, the Company shall issue as promptly as practicable a public announcement stating that the exercisability or exchangeability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended. Notice thereof pursuant to Section 5.9 shall not be required. Failure to give a notice pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity of any action taken hereunder. 42 5.11 Costs of Enforcement. The Company agrees that if the Company or any other Person the securities of which are purchasable upon exercise of Rights fails to fulfill any of its obligations pursuant to this Agreement, then the Company or such Person will reimburse the holder of any Rights for the costs and expenses (including legal fees) incurred by such holder in actions to enforce such holder's rights pursuant to any Rights or this Agreement. 5.12 Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder. 5.13 Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement and this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights. 5.14 Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc. The Board of Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically granted to the Board or to the Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this Agreement. All such actions, calculations, 43 interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board in good faith, shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights and all other parties, and (y) not subject the Board of Directors of the Company to any liability to the holders of the Rights. 5.15 Severability. If any term or provision hereof or the application thereof to any circumstance shall, in any jurisdiction and to any extent, be invalid or unenforceable, such term or provision shall be ineffective as to such jurisdiction to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without invalidating or rendering unenforceable the remaining terms and provisions hereof or the application of such term or provision to circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid or unenforceable. 5.16 Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH RIGHT ISSUED HEREUNDER SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF SUCH STATE APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS TO BE MADE AND PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN SUCH STATE. 5.17 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an 44 original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. 5.18 Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings appear herein for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written. ATTEST: HCIA INC. __________________________ By:_____________________________________ George D. Pillari President and Chief Executive Officer ATTEST: CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C. __________________________ By:_____________________________________ Name: Title: 45 EXHIBIT A --------- [Form of Rights Certificate] Certificate No. _____________ Rights THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION OR MANDATORY EXCHANGE, AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY ACQUIRING PERSONS OR AFFILIATES OR ASSOCIATES THEREOF (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) OR TRANSFEREES OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING WILL BE VOID. Rights Certificate HCIA INC. This certifies that _______________________, or registered assigns, is the registered holder of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles the registered holder thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Stockholder Rights Agreement, dated as of April 23, l997 (as amended from time to time, the "Rights Agreement"), between HCIA Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Company"), and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent", which term shall include any successor Rights Agent under the Rights Agreement), to purchase from the Company at any time after the Separation Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior to the close of business on April 22, 2007, one one-hundredth of a fully paid share of Class A Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock"), of the Company (subject to adjustment as provided in the Rights Agreement) at the Exercise Price referred to below, upon presentation and surrender of this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election to Exercise duly executed at the principal office of the Rights Agent in Miami, Florida. The Exercise Price shall initially be $240 per Right and shall be subject to adjustment in certain events as provided in the Rights Agreement. In certain circumstances described in the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced hereby may entitle the registered holder thereof to purchase securities of an entity other than the Company or securities or assets of the Company other than Preferred Stock, all as provided in the Rights Agreement. This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates. Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal office of the Company and are available without cost upon written request. This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates, upon surrender at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates of like tenor evidencing an aggregate number of Rights equal to the aggregate number of Rights evidenced by 2 the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered. If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the registered holder shall be entitled to receive, upon surrender hereof, another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised. Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, each Right evidenced by this Certificate may be (a) redeemed by the Company under certain circumstances, at its option, at a redemption price of $0.01 per Right or (b) exchanged by the Company under certain circumstances, at its option, for one share of Common Stock or one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock per Right (or, in certain cases, other securities or assets of the Company), subject in each case to adjustment in certain events as provided in the Rights Agreement. No holder of this Rights Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of any securities which may at any time be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Rights evidenced by 3 this Rights Certificate shall have been exercised or exchanged as provided in the Rights Agreement. This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent. WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and its corporate seal. Date: _____________________ ATTEST: HCIA INC. ____________________________ By_____________________________________ Charles A. Berardesco George D. Pillari Secretary President and Chief Executive Officer Countersigned: - ---------------------------- By:_________________________ Authorized Signature 4 [Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate] FORM OF ASSIGNMENT ------------------ (To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires to transfer this Rights Certificate.) FOR VALUE RECEIVED _____________________________ hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto _____________________________________________________ (Please print name and address of transferee) this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint _________________ Attorney, to transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the within-named Company, with full power of substitution. Dated: _____________________, ____ Signature Guaranteed: _________________________________ Signature (Signature must correspond to name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever) Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions with membership in an approved signature guarantee Medallion program), pursuant to SEC Rule 17AD-15. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (To be completed if true) The undersigned hereby represents, for the benefit of all holders of Rights and shares of Common Stock, that the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are not, and, to the knowledge of the undersigned, have never been, Beneficially Owned by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement). _________________________________ Signature - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTICE ------ In the event the certification set forth above is not completed in connection with a purported assignment, the Company will deem the Beneficial Owner of the Rights evidenced by the enclosed Rights Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement) or a transferee of any of the foregoing and accordingly will deem the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate to be void and not transferable or exercisable. 2 [To be attached to each Rights Certificate] FORM OF ELECTION TO EXERCISE ---------------------------- (To be executed if holder desires to exercise the Rights Certificate.) TO: HCIA INC. The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise __________________ whole Rights represented by the attached Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that certificates for such shares be issued in the name of: ------------------------------------------ Address: ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ Social Security or Other Taxpayer Identification Number: ------------------------------------------ If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance of such Rights shall be registered in the name of and delivered to: ------------------------------------------ Address: ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ Social Security or Other Taxpayer Identification Number: ------------------------------------------ Dated: __________________, ____ Signature Guaranteed: __________________________________________ Signature (Signature must correspond to name as written upon the face of the attached Rights Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever) Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (To be completed if true) The undersigned hereby represents, for the benefit of all holders of Rights and shares of Common Stock, that the Rights evidenced by the attached Rights Certificate are not, and, to the knowledge of the undersigned, have never been, Beneficially Owned by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement). _________________________________ Signature - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTICE ------ In the event the certification set forth above is not completed in connection with a purported exercise, the Company will deem the Beneficial Owner of the Rights evidenced by the attached Rights Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement) or a transferee of any of the foregoing and accordingly will deem the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate to be void and not transferable or exercisable. 2 EXHIBIT B --------- HCIA INC. ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY HCIA INC., a Maryland corporation having its principal office in Baltimore City, Maryland (hereinafter called the "Corporation"), hereby certifies to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland that: FIRST: The Corporation's Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended by Articles of Amendment thereto (the "Charter"), currently provides for Five Hundred Thousand (500,000) authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock which may be classified by the Board of Directors. Pursuant to the authority contained in the Charter, the Board of Directors has now duly classified __________________________ shares of the Corporation's authorized but unissued preferred stock, as a new class of preferred stock, to be entitled "Class A Preferred Stock." SECOND: A description of the new class of Class A Preferred Stock, and of the preferences, rights, voting powers, restrictions, dividends, qualifications and terms and conditions thereof, is as follows: Section 1. Class A Preferred Stock. - ---------- ------------------------ The Class A Preferred Stock shall have a par value of $0.01 per share, but shall have a stated value of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per share. The Board of Directors may from time to time classify additional unissued shares of Preferred Stock as Class A Preferred Stock. Section 2. Dividends and Distributions. - ---------- ---------------------------- The holders of record of full or fractional shares of Class A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when and as declared by the Board of Directors, but only out of funds legally available for the purpose (A) on each date that dividends or other distributions (other than dividends or distributions payable in Common Stock of the Corporation) are payable on or in respect of Common Stock comprising part of the Reference Package (as defined below), an amount per whole share of this Series equal to the aggregate amount of dividends or other distributions (other than dividends or distributions payable in Common Stock of the Corporation) that would be payable on such date to a holder of the Reference Package and (B) on the last day of March, June, September and December in each year, in an amount per whole share of this Series equal to the excess (if any) of $60 over the aggregate dividends paid per whole share of this Series during the three month period ending on such last day. Each such dividend shall be paid to the holders of record of shares of this Series on the date, not exceeding sixty days preceding such dividend or distribution payment date, fixed for the purpose by the Board of Directors in advance of payment of each particular dividend or distribution. Dividends on each full and each fractional share of this Series shall be cumulative from the date such full or fractional share is originally issued; provided that any such full or fractional share originally issued after a dividend record date and on or 2 prior to the dividend payment date to which such record date relates shall not be entitled to receive the dividend payable on such dividend payment date or any amount in respect of the period from such original issuance to such dividend payment date. The term "Reference Package" shall initially mean 100 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share ("Common Stock"), of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the close of business on, April 24, 1997 (A) declare or pay a dividend on any Common Stock payable in Common Stock, (B) subdivide any Common Stock or (C) combine any Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then and in each such case the Reference Package after such event shall be the Common Stock that a holder of the Reference Package immediately prior to such event would hold thereafter as a result thereof. Holders of shares of this Series shall not be entitled to any dividends, whether payable in cash, property or stock, in excess of full cumulative dividends, as herein provided on this Series. So long as any shares of this Series are outstanding, no dividend (other than a dividend in Common Stock or in any other stock ranking junior to this Series as to dividends and upon liquidation) shall be declared or paid or set aside for payment or other distribution declared or made upon the Common Stock or upon any other stock ranking junior to this Series as to dividends or upon liquidation, nor shall any Common Stock nor any other stock of the Corporation ranking junior to or on a parity with this Series as to dividends or upon liquidation be redeemed, purchased or otherwise 3 acquired for any consideration (or any moneys be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any shares of any such stock) by the Corporation (except by conversion into or exchange for stock of the Corporation ranking junior to this Series as to dividends and upon liquidation), unless, in each case, the full cumulative dividends (including the dividend to be due upon payment of such dividend, distribution, redemption, purchase or other acquisition) on all outstanding shares of this Series shall have been, or shall contemporaneously be, paid. Section 3. Redemption. - ---------- ----------- The shares of Class A Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable. Section 4. Liquidation Rights. - ---------- ------------------- In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of full and fractional shares of this Series shall be entitled, before any distribution or payment is made on any date to the holders of the Common Stock or any other stock of the Corporation ranking junior to this Series upon liquidation, to be paid in full an amount per whole share of this Series equal to the greater of (A) $24,000 or (B) the aggregate amount distributed or to be distributed prior to such date in connection with such liquidation, dissolution or winding up to a holder of the Reference Package (such greater amount being hereinafter referred to as the "Liquidation Preference"), together with accrued dividends to such distribution or payment date, whether or not earned or declared. If such payment shall have been made in full to all holders of shares of this Series, the holders of shares of this 4 Series as such shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation. In the event the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to the holders of shares of this Series upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, shall be insufficient to pay in full all amounts to which such holders are entitled pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 4, no such distribution shall be made on account of any shares of any other class or series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity with the shares of this Series upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up unless proportionate distributive amounts shall be paid on account of the shares of this Series, ratably in proportion to the full distributable amounts for which holders of all such parity shares are respectively entitled upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up. Upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the holders of shares of this Series then outstanding shall be entitled to be paid out of assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders all amounts to which such holders are entitled pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 4 before any payment shall be made to the holders of Common Stock or any other stock of the Corporation ranking junior upon liquidation to this Series. For the purposes of this Section 4, the consolidation or merger of, or binding share exchange by, the Corporation with any other corporation shall not be 5 deemed to constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation. Section 5. Merger, Consolidation. - ---------- ---------------------- Except as otherwise provided herein, the holders of shares of Class A Preferred Stock shall not have any rights herein to convert such shares into or exchange such shares for shares of any other class or classes or of any other series of any class or classes of capital stock of the Corporation. In the event of any merger, consolidation, reclassification or other transaction in which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case the shares of this Series shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed in an amount per whole share equal to the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, that a holder of the Reference Package would be entitled to receive as a result of such transaction. Section 6. Voting. - ---------- ------- In addition to any other vote or consent of stockholders required by law or by the Charter, each whole share of this Series shall, on any matter, vote as a class with any other capital stock comprising part of the Reference Package and voting on such matter and shall have the number of votes thereon that a holder of the Reference Package would have. 6 Section 7. Fractional Shares. - ---------- ------------------ Class A Preferred Shares may be issued in fractions of a share, which may be represented by certificates or scrip for fractional shares, or by depository receipts, and which shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such holder's fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends, participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all other rights of holders of Class A Preferred Stock. THIRD: The classification of authorized but unissued shares as set forth in these Articles Supplementary has effected no change in the authorized capital of the Corporation consisting of Five Hundred Thousand (500,000) shares of Preferred Stock, with a par value of $0.01, and Fifty Million (50,000,000) shares of Common Stock, with a par value of $0.01 each, amounting in the aggregate to Five Hundred Five Thousand Dollars ($505,000). IN WITNESS WHEREOF, HCIA Inc. has caused these presents to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its President and its corporate seal to be hereunto affixed and attested by its Secretary this ________ day of ________, ____ and the undersigned officers acknowledge that these Articles Supplementary are the acts of the Corporation, that to the best of their knowledge, information and belief all matters and facts set forth herein relating to the authorization and approval of these Articles are 7 true in all material respects, and that this statement is made under the penalties of perjury. ATTEST: HCIA INC. _____________________________ By_____________________________________ Charles A. Berardesco George D. Pillari Secretary President and Chief Executive Officer 8 EX-99 3 EXHIBIT 99 NEWS RELEASE HCIA INC. Contact: Barry C. Offutt 300 East Lombard Street (410) 895-7522 Baltimore, MD 21202 HCIA ANNOUNCES EPS OF $0.21 FOR FIRST QUARTER Baltimore, MD, April 23, 1997 -- HCIA Inc. (NASDAQ:HCIA) today announced its results for the quarter ended March 31, 1997. Net income per share increased to $0.21, an increase of 50% over the first quarter of 1996. Revenue increased to $25.7 million, an increase of 81% over the first quarter of 1996. During the quarter, the Company initiated several business relationships that are built on HCIA's fully integrated product offerings. IQRM(TM) product partnerships were structured with the U.S. Diagnostics Division of Bayer Corporation and the Zimmer, Inc. subsidiary of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. Together with Bayer, HCIA will be offering cost-containment solutions to hospitals to assist in the resource management of intensive inpatient cases, in areas such as oncology, cardiology and nephrology care. The partnership with Zimmer, the nation's leading orthopaedic implant manufacturer, will focus the orthopaedic suite of IQRM(TM) on selected Zimmer hospital customers to create a total orthopaedics solution. Additionally, the Company noted that The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York was among the IQRM(TM) customers added during the quarter. Relationships for MCO.SYS(TM) initiated during the quarter included Oxford Health Plans and the U.S. Pharmaceutical Division of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. As part of these relationships, HCIA is supporting managed care and disease management programs with patient survey technologies, data integration, and analytical services included in the MCO.SYS(TM) product. "Through its acquisition efforts, HCIA has sought to execute on a strategy that combines databases, analytical software, and implementation services," said George D. Pillari, HCIA's Chairman and CEO. "The early success of IQRM(TM) and MCO.SYS(TM) with blue-chip partners and customers provides us with encouraging signs that our strategy is a valid one," he added. The Company also announced that, during the quarter, Lawrence Byrne had resigned as a Senior Vice President and subsequent to the end of the quarter, Kevin Hicks had resigned as a Senior Vice President. Their duties have been assumed by other senior HCIA executives. STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN In addition, the Company announced that its Board of Directors has adopted a stockholder rights plan designed to ensure fair and equal treatment for all stockholders by enhancing the ability of the Board of Directors to negotiate with prospective acquirers. Under the plan, each share of common stock will be deemed to include the right to purchase additional capital stock of the Company or another entity in the event that a person were to acquire or propose to acquire 15% or more of the Company's stock without approval of the Board of Directors. Mr. Pillari stated: "We are not aware of any specific current threat, and we have no particular reason to believe we will be the target of a takeover attempt in the future. The Company believes that in adopting the plan, we have made a prudent management decision to protect our stockholders in the event an unsolicited attempt is made to acquire the Company for less than its fair market value. We are committed to protecting our stockholders from coercive takeover tactics and enhancing long-term value for our stockholders through the Company's strategic plans, and the adoption of this plan is designed to assist us in achieving those goals." Under the plan, the Board will retain the power to redeem plan rights for $.01 per share, if deemed appropriate in connection with a transaction determined by the Board to be in the best interests of stockholders. The rights will be distributed as a dividend on or about May 1, 1997 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on April 24, 1997. Details regarding the rights plan are outlined in a summary that will be mailed to all stockholders of record. An investor conference call is scheduled for 10:30 a.m., eastern time, on April 24, 1997. Please contact the Investor Relations Department at (410) 895-7515 for further information regarding the call. HCIA Inc. is a leading health care information content company that develops and markets clinical and financial decision support systems used by hospitals, integrated delivery systems, managed care organizations, employers, and pharmaceutical manufacturers. The Company's databases and products are used to benchmark clinical performance and outcomes, profile best practices, and manage the cost and delivery of health care. SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995: This press release, other than historical financial information, consists of forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Those statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company and its management. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and that actual results could differ materially from those indicated by such forward looking statements. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward looking statements are (i) that the information is of a preliminary nature and may be subject to further adjustment, (ii) variations in quarterly results, (iii) the assimilation of acquisitions, (iv) the management of the Company's growth and expansion, (v) dependence on key personnel, (vi) development by competitors of new or superior products or entry into the market of new competitors, (vii) dependence on major customers, (viii) dependence on intellectual property rights, (ix) integrity and reliability of the Company's data, (x) volatility of the Company's stock price, (xi) changes in the health care industry from both a regulatory and financial perspective, (xii) the effectiveness of the plan rights in protecting the Company's stockholders against unsolicited takeover attempts at less than fair value, and (xiii) other risks identified from time to time in the Company's reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update the information contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. HCIA INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (in thousands, except per share data) (Unaudited) Three months ended March 31, 1997 1996 Revenue $25,725 $14,229 Salaries, wages and benefits 10,875 6,686 Other operating expenses 6,054 3,303 Depreciation 932 518 Amortization 3,740 1,792 ------- ------- Operating income 4,124 1,930 Interest income 181 282 Interest expense 98 83 ------- ------- Income before income taxes 4,207 2,129 Provision for income taxes 1,679 838 ------- ------- Net income $ 2,528 $ 1,291 ======= ======= Net income per share $ 0.21 $ 0.14 ======= ======= Shares used in per share calculation 12,259 9,460 ======= ======= HCIA INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS MARCH 31, 1997 AND DECEMBER 31, 1996 (in thousands)
1997 1996 (Unaudited) ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 9,339 $ 13,302 Short-term investments - 510 Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,251 in 1997 and $1,042 in 1996 37,978 32,122 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 3,435 3,886 Income tax receivable 125 339 Deferred compensation funds held in trust 5,321 (1) 5,321 ---------------- ---------------- Total current assets 56,198 55,480 Furniture and equipment, net 13,247 12,188 Computer software costs, net 23,287 20,425 Other intangible assets, net 113,567 115,601 Net deferred tax asset 15,860 17,074 Other 123 123 Deferred compensation funds held in trust 2,305 (1) 2,305 ---------------- ---------------- Total assets $ 224,587 $ 223,196 ================ ================ LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 2,202 $ 1,315 Accrued salaries, benefits and other liabilities 6,595 8,078 Notes payable 534 1,718 Deferred revenue 1,666 2,052 Acquired deferred compensation liability 5,321 (1) 5,321 ---------------- ---------------- Total current liabilities 16,318 18,484 Acquired deferred compensation liability 2,305 (1) 2,305 ---------------- ---------------- Total liabilities 18,623 20,789 ---------------- ---------------- Stockholders' equity: Common stock-$.01 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding 11,833,656 as of March 31, 1997 and 11,781,458 as of December 31, 1996 118 118 Additional paid-in capital 250,602 249,591 Accumulated deficit (44,692) (47,220) Cumulative unrealized appreciation of short-term investments 40 4 Cumulative effect of currency translation adjustment (104) (86) ---------------- ---------------- Total stockholders' equity 205,964 202,407 ---------------- ---------------- Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 224,587 $ 223,196 ================ ================
(1) These amounts relate to a deferred compensation arrangement assumed in connection with the acquisition of LBA Health Care Management Inc. -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----