Exhibit 10.1


 


STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT


 


THIS
STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT (this “AGREEMENT”), dated as of December 3, 2004,
is entered into by and between MSC.Software Corporation, a Delaware corporation
(the “Company”), ValueAct Capital Master Fund, L.P. (“ValueAct Master Fund”),
ValueAct Capital Partners Co-Investors, L.P. (“ValueAct Co-Investors”), VA
Partners, L.L.C. (“VA Partners”), Jeffrey W. Ubben (“Ubben”), George F. Hamel,
Jr. (“Hamel”), Peter H. Kamin (“Kamin,” and together with ValueAct Master Fund,
ValueAct Co-Investors, VA Partners, Ubben, Hamel and Kamin, the “Stockholders”)
and, with respect to the last sentence of Section 1.2 of this Agreement only,
Gregory P. Spivy and William J. Weyand.


 


W I T N E S S E T H:


 


WHEREAS, one
or more of the Stockholders is the beneficial owner of 3,459,800 shares (the “Shares”)
of common stock of the Company (the “Common Stock”), which represents
approximately 11.3% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock; and


 


WHEREAS, the
Company and the Stockholders desire to increase the authorized number of
directors and make certain other agreements as contained herein.


 


NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual promises,
representations, warranties, respective covenants and agreements of the parties
contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by each of the parties hereto, the
parties hereto, intending to be legally bound hereby, agree as follows:


 


ARTICLE I


BOARD OF DIRECTORS


 


Section 1.1            INCREASE
BOARD SIZE. 
Effective upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement, (i) Article
III, Section 2 of the Company’s Bylaws shall be amended to increase the exact
number of directors from five (5) to seven (7), (ii) the two additional
directors created by such amendment shall be designated as Class I directors,
in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company,
(iii) Gregory P. Spivy and William J. Weyand shall be appointed as new Class I
directors, (iv) each of Messrs. Spivy and Weyand shall be appointed as members
of the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board of Directors of the
Company and (v) Mr. Weyand shall be appointed as a member of the Audit
Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company.


 


Section 1.2            STOCKHOLDERS
DIRECTORS.  So
long as the Stockholders  beneficially
own in the aggregate 10% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and
this Agreement has not otherwise been terminated in accordance with its terms,
the Stockholders shall have the right to designate one individual who is an
affiliate (as defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) (an “Affiliate”) of the
Stockholders as a nominee for election as a director of the Company (the “Affiliate
Director”) and one individual who is not an Affiliate of the Stockholders as a
nominee for election as a director of the Company (the “Independent Director”
and together with the 


 





















 


Affiliate Director, the “Stockholders
Directors”).  The initial Affiliate
Director shall be Mr. Spivy and the initial Independent Director shall be Mr.
Weyand.  Any other individual designated
as Affiliate Director or Independent Director must be reasonably acceptable to
the Company.  So long as the Stockholders  beneficially own in the aggregate 10% or more of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock and this Agreement has not otherwise been
terminated in accordance with its terms, the Company will support the election
of the Stockholders Directors at each annual meeting of stockholders of the
Company.  The Company shall use its
reasonable best efforts to appoint both of the Stockholders Directors as
members of the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board of Directors of
the Company and the Independent Director as a member of the Audit Committee of
the Board of Directors of the Company. 
At such time as the Stockholders no longer beneficially own in the
aggregate 10% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, each of the
Stockholders Directors will tender his resignation as a director of the
Company.


 


Section 1.3            ADDITIONAL
INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS.  The
parties hereto acknowledge that, as soon as reasonably practicable, the Board
of Directors intends to further increase the exact number of directors to nine
(9) and to appoint two additional directors who are not Affiliates of the
Company or the Stockholders.  The two
additional directors will be recommended by the Nominating and Governance Committee
of the Board of Directors from candidates designated by the directors of the
Company.


 


ARTICLE II


REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES


 


Section 2.1            REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF STOCKHOLDERS.  The Stockholders represent and warrant to the
Company that (i) one or more of the Stockholders is the record and direct or
indirect beneficial owner of the Shares, (ii) each of the Stockholders, other
than Ubben, Hamel and Kamin, is duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and has all requisite
power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, (iii) this Agreement
has been duly executed and delivered by the Stockholders, and (iv) this
Agreement constitutes the valid and binding agreement of the Stockholders,
enforceable against the Stockholders in accordance with its terms, except as
may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,
reorganization, moratorium, and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’
rights generally and general equitable principles (whether considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law), in each case now or hereafter in effect.  The Stockholders further represent and
warrant to the Company that Mr. Weyand (A) is not an Affiliate of any of the
Stockholders, (B) is not an employee of, and does not receive compensation
directly or indirectly from, any of the Stockholders, (C) will not be directed
by any of the Stockholders to act on its behalf or in its place as a director
of the Company, and (D) to the best of the Stockholders’ knowledge, is “independent”
of the Company within the meaning of Rule 10A-3 promulgated under the Exchange
Act and the rules of the New York Stock Exchange.


 


Section 2.2            REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.  The Company represents and warrants to the
Stockholders that (i) the Company is duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has all requisite
corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, (ii) this 


 


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Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by the Company, and (iii) this Agreement constitutes the
valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium, and similar laws relating to
or affecting creditors’ rights generally and general equitable principles
(whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), in each case now or
hereafter in effect.  The Company further
represents and warrants to the Stockholders that the actions contemplated by
Sections 1.1 and 1.2 of this Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by
all necessary corporate action and expressly approved by the Board of Directors
of the Company.


 


ARTICLE III


COVENANTS


 


Section 3.1            COVENANTS
OF THE STOCKHOLDERS. 
ValueAct Master Fund agrees immediately to dismiss the action initiated
by the filing of the Complaint pursuant to 8.Del.C. § 211 filed in the Court of
Chancery of the State of Delaware In and For New Castle County (Filing ID
4549410), filed November 4, 2004.  Each
of the Stockholders agrees with the Company that, during the period commencing
on the date hereof and ending on the date that is 90 days after the date on
which the Company has first filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 and
each of its Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for
periods subsequent to December 31, 2003, the required filing date thereof has
passed:


 


(a)           None of the Stockholders will file
any action to compel the Company to schedule or hold an annual meeting of
stockholders, nor will any of the Stockholders directly or indirectly support,
assist or encourage the filing of any such action.


 


(b)           Each of the Stockholders will not,
and will cause each of its Affiliates not to: 
(i) propose directly or indirectly to the Company or its stockholders
any transaction between a Stockholder or any of its Affiliates and the Company
and/or its security holders or involving any of its securities or security
holders unless the Board of Directors of the Company shall have requested in
writing that it make such a proposal, (ii) acquire, or assist, advise or
encourage any other person in acquiring, directly or indirectly, control of the
Company or any of the Company’s securities, businesses or assets, unless the
Company shall have consented in advance in writing to such acquisition; provided
that nothing in this clause (ii) shall limit the right of any Stockholder to
sell any shares of Common Stock so long as the Stockholders, in the aggregate,
do not knowingly sell 5% or more of the then outstanding shares of the Company’s
Common Stock to any one person or group (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the
Exchange Act) (it being understood that the right of any Stockholder to sell
any shares of Common Stock to a broker-dealer shall not be limited in any
respect by this clause (ii), including, without limitation, the foregoing 5%
limitation), (iii) engage in any proxy contest with respect to the election of
directors, (iv) request the Company or any of its representatives, directly or
indirectly, to release it from, amend or waive, or otherwise take any action
that is inconsistent with any provision of this paragraph (including this
clause (iv)); provided that nothing in this clause (iv) shall limit the right
of the Stockholders to request that the Company amend or waive the 5%
limitation contained in the proviso in clause (ii), or (v) take any action that
might cause the Company in its reasonable judgment to conclude that it is
required to make any public announcement regarding 


 


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any of the activities referred
to in this paragraph or the possibility of any business combination or asset
sale transaction or merger (it being agreed that in the event that any proposal
made by any Stockholder or any of its Affiliates or any of their
representatives shall cause the Company in its reasonable judgment to conclude
that it would be required to make any such public announcement, upon the
Company’s request such Stockholder or its Affiliate or their representatives,
as applicable, shall immediately withdraw such proposal in writing).


 


Section 3.2            COVENANTS
OF THE COMPANY. 
The Company shall not enter or agree to enter into any transaction the
consummation of which would result in a person acquiring (A) control, directly
or indirectly, of the Company, (B) more than twenty percent (20%) of securities
of the Company entitled to vote in the election of directors of the Company or
(C) a substantial portion of the Company’s businesses or assets until at least
two (2) business days following the receipt by the Stockholders of written
notice from the Company that the Company has commenced substantive negotiations
with such person with respect to such transaction.


 


ARTICLE IV


TERMINATION


 


Section 4.1            TERMINATION.  This Agreement shall terminate and be of no
further force or effect upon the first of the following events to occur:


 


(a)           Except upon the request of the
Stockholders, either of the Stockholders Directors is not nominated as a
director by the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board of Directors
of the Company or otherwise included as a nominee for director in any proxy
statement sent by the Company in connection with any meeting of the
stockholders of the Company for the election of directors.


 


(b)           Either of the Stockholders Directors
is no longer a member of the Board of Directors of the Company; provided that
in the case of the death or resignation of either of the Stockholders
Directors, the Stockholders shall have promptly given written notice to the
Company of a replacement Stockholders Director, and such replacement
Stockholders Director shall have not been appointed within ten (10) business
days after such written notice; provided further that (i) any person designated
by the Stockholders to replace an Affiliate Director must be an Affiliate
Director, (ii) any person designated by the Stockholders to replace an
Independent Director must be an Independent Director and the Stockholders must
deliver to the Company written representations and warranties regarding the new
Independent Director substantially the same as set forth in the last sentence
of Section 2.1, and (iii) any individual designated as an Affiliate Director or
Independent Director must be reasonably acceptable to the Company.


 


(c)           Except in the case of death or
resignation, (i) either of the Stockholders Directors is no longer a member of
the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board of Directors of the
Company or (ii) the Independent Director is no longer a member of the Audit
Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company.


 


(d)           By mutual consent of the Company and
the Stockholders.


 


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(e)           The Company shall have received an
offer from a person other than a Stockholder or an Affiliate of a Stockholder
to acquire (A) control, directly or indirectly, of the Company, (B) more than
twenty percent (20%) of the voting power of securities of the Company entitled
to vote in the election of directors of the Company or (C) a substantial
portion of the Company’s businesses or assets that the Company shall not have
rejected within ten (10) business days if the offer is made in the form of a
tender offer for the Company’s securities or fifteen (15) business days if the
offer is made in any other manner.


 


(f)            The Company shall have commenced
substantive negotiations with, or provided any non-public information relating
to the Company to, any person regarding a transaction the consummation of which
would result in a person acquiring (A) control, directly or indirectly, of the
Company, (B) more than twenty percent (20%) of securities of the Company
entitled to vote in the election of directors of the Company or (C) a
substantial portion of the Company’s businesses or assets.


 


(g)           The Company shall have made a general
assignment for the benefit of creditors or any proceeding shall have been
instituted by or against the Company seeking to adjudicate it bankrupt or
insolvent, or seeking liquidation, winding up or reorganization under any law
relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors, or
seeking the entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a receiver,
trustee or other similar official for it or for any substantial part of its
property.


 


Section 4.2            EFFECT OF
TERMINATION.  In
the event of any termination of this Agreement, this Agreement (other than
Sections 5.1 through 5.8, inclusive) shall become void and of no effect with no
liability on the part of any party hereto; provided that no such termination
shall relieve any party hereto from liability for any breach of this Agreement
prior to termination thereof.


 


ARTICLE V


GENERAL


 


Section 5.1            NOTICES.  All notices,
requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given to a party if delivered in
person or sent by overnight delivery (providing proof of delivery) to the party
at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be
specified by like notice) on the date of delivery, or if by facsimile, upon
confirmation of receipt:


 


	
  If to the
  Company:

  	
  MSC.Software
  Corporation

  
	
   

  	
  2 MacArthur
  Place

  
	
   

  	
  Santa Ana,
  CA 92707

  
	
   

  	
  Attention:

  	
  Frank Perna,
  Jr.

  
	
   

  	
  Telephone:

  	
  714.444.5104

  
	
   

  	
  Telecopier:

  	
  714.784.4443

  



 


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  With a copy

  	
   

  
	
  (which shall
  not

  	
   

  
	
  constitute
  notice) to:

  	
  O’Melveny
  & Myers LLP

  
	
   

  	
  400 South
  Hope Street

  
	
   

  	
  Los Angeles,
  CA 90071-2899

  
	
   

  	
  Attention:

  	
  Richard A.
  Boehmer

  
	
   

  	
  Telephone:

  	
  213.430.6643

  
	
   

  	
  Telecopier:

  	
  213.430.6407

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  If to the
  Stockholders:

  	
  c/o ValueAct
  Capital

  
	
   

  	
  435 Pacific
  Avenue, Fourth Floor

  
	
   

  	
  San
  Francisco, CA 94133

  
	
   

  	
  Attention:

  	
  Gregory P.
  Spivy

  
	
   

  	
  Telephone:

  	
  415.362.3700

  
	
   

  	
  Telecopier:

  	
  415.362.5727

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  With a copy

  (which shall not

  constitute notice) to:

  	
  Dechert LLP

  
	
   

  	
  4000 Bell
  Atlantic Tower

  
	
   

  	
  1717 Arch
  Street

  
	
   

  	
  Philadelphia,
  PA 19103-2791

  
	
   

  	
  Attention:

  	
  Christopher
  G. Karras

  
	
   

  	
  Telephone:

  	
  215.994.4000

  
	
   

  	
  Telecopier:

  	
  215.994.2222

  



 


Section 5.2            NO
THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES.  Nothing in this Agreement, whether express or
implied, is intended to or shall confer any rights, benefits or remedies under
or by reason of this Agreement on any persons other than the parties and their
respective successors and permitted assigns, nor is anything in this Agreement
intended to relieve or discharge the obligation or liability of any third
persons to any party, nor shall any provisions give any third persons any right
or subrogation over or action against any party.


 


Section 5.3            GOVERNING
LAW.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and
enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving
effect to the conflicts of law provisions thereof.  Any disputes arising out of or in connection
with this Agreement shall be adjudicated in the Court of Chancery of the State
of Delaware.  Each party hereto
irrevocably submits to the personal jurisdiction of such court for the purposes
of any such suit, action, counterclaim or proceeding arising out of this
Agreement (collectively, a “Suit”).  Each
of the parties hereto hereby waives and agrees not to assert by way of
motion, as a defense or otherwise in any such Suit, any claim that it is not
subject to jurisdiction of the above court, that such Suit is brought in an
inconvenient forum, or the venue of such Suit is improper.  Each of the parties hereby agrees that
service of all writs, process and summonses in any Suit may be made upon such
party by mail to the address as provided in this Agreement.  Nothing herein shall in anyway be deemed to
limit the ability of any party to serve any such writs, process or summonses in
any other matter permitted by applicable law.


 


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Section 5.4            ASSIGNMENT;
SUCCESSORS. 
This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by the parties and their respective successors and permitted
assigns.  No party to this Agreement may
assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Agreement, whether by
operation of law or otherwise, to any other person without the express prior
written consent of the other party hereto. 
Any such assignment or transfer made without the prior written consent
of the other party hereto shall be null and void.


 


Section 5.5            AMENDMENTS;
WAIVERS.  Subject
to applicable law, this Agreement may only be amended pursuant to a written
agreement executed by all the parties, and no waiver of compliance with any
provision or condition of this Agreement and no consent provided for in this
Agreement shall be effective unless evidenced by a written instrument executed
by the party against whom such waiver or consent is to be effective.  No waiver of any term or provision of this
Agreement shall be construed as a further or continuing waiver of such term or
provision or any other term or provision.


 


Section 5.6            ENTIRE
AGREEMENT.  This
Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of all the parties and supersedes
any and all prior and contemporaneous agreements, memoranda, arrangements and
understandings, both written and oral, between the parties, or either of them,
with respect to the subject matter hereof. 
No representation, warranty, promise, inducement or statement of
intention has been made by any party which is not contained in this Agreement
and no party shall be bound by, or be liable for, any alleged representation,
promise, inducement or statement of intention not contained herein or
therein.  The parties expressly disclaim
reliance on any information, statements, representations or warranties
regarding the subject matter of this Agreement other than the terms of this
Agreement.


 


Section 5.7            COUNTERPARTS.  To facilitate
execution, this Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts
(including by facsimile transmission), each of which shall be deemed to be an
original, but all of which together shall constitute one binding agreement on
the parties, notwithstanding that not all parties are signatories to the same
counterpart.


 


Section 5.8            SPECIFIC
PERFORMANCE.  The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur
in the event any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in
accordance with the terms hereof and that the parties are entitled to specific
performance of the terms hereof in addition to any other remedies at law or in
equity.


 


[Signature Page Follows]


 


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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly
executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.


 


	
   

  	
  MSC.SOFTWARE
  CORPORATION

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By:

  	
  /s/

  	
  FRANK PERNA,
  JR.

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Name: Frank
  Perna, Jr.

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Title: Chairman
  and CEO

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  STOCKHOLDERS:

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  ValueAct
  Capital Master Fund, L.P., by

  
	
   

  	
  VA Partners,
  L.L.C., its General Partner

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By:

  	
  /s/

  	
  GEORGE F.
  HAMEL, JR.

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Name: George
  F. Hamel, Jr.

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Title: Managing
  Member

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  ValueAct
  Capital Partners Co-Investors, L.P.,

  
	
   

  	
  by VA
  Partners, L.L.C., its General Partner

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By:

  	
  /s/

  	
  GEORGE F.
  HAMEL, JR.

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Name: George
  F. Hamel, Jr.

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Title: Managing
  Member

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  VA Partners,
  L.L.C.

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By:

  	
  /s/

  	
  GEORGE F.
  HAMEL, JR.

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Name: George
  F. Hamel, Jr.

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Title: Managing
  Member

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  /s/

  	
   JEFFERY
  W. UBBEN

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Jeffrey W.
  Ubben

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  /s/

  	
   GEORGE F. HAMEL, JR.

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  George F.
  Hamel, Jr.

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  /s/

  	
   P. H. KAMIN.

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Peter H. Kamin

  



 


S-1





















 


	
   

  	
   

  	
  /s/

  	
   GREGORY P. SPIVY

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Gregory P.
  Spivy

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  /s/

  	
   WILLIAM J. WEYAND

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  William J.
  Weyand

  
						



 


S-2