UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December29, 2014
 
ModusLink Global Solutions, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Delaware
001-35319
04-2921333
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
(Commission
File Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
     
1601 Trapelo Road, Suite 170
Waltham, Massachusetts
02451
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (781) 663-5000
 
 
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions ( see General Instruction A.2. below):

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 
 
 
 
Item 1.01 . Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement.
 
On December 29, 2014, ModusLink Global Solutions, Inc. (the “Company”) filed an Amendment to its Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Protective Amendment”) with the Delaware Secretary of State to protect the significant potential long-term tax benefits presented by its net operating losses and other tax benefits (collectively, the “NOLs”). The Protective Amendment was approved by the Company’s stockholders at the Company’s 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on December 9, 2014.  As a result of the filing of the Protective Amendment with the Delaware Secretary of State, the Company amended its Tax Benefit Preservation Plan so that it expired at the close of business on December 31, 2014.  The foregoing summary is not a complete description of the terms of the amendment to the Tax Benefit Preservation Plan and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the amendment, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 4.1 hereto and is incorporated by reference herein.
 
The Protective Amendment limits certain transfers of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”), to assist the Company in protecting the long-term value of its accumulated NOLs. The Protective Amendment’s transfer restrictions generally restrict any direct or indirect transfers of the Common Stock if the effect would be to increase the direct or indirect ownership of the Common Stock by any Person (as defined in the Protective Amendment) from less than 4.99% to 4.99% or more of the Common Stock, or increase the percentage of the Common Stock owned directly or indirectly by a Person owning or deemed to own 4.99% or more of the Common Stock.  Any direct or indirect transfer attempted in violation of the Protective Amendment will be void as of the date of the prohibited transfer as to the purported transferee.  The Board of Directors of the Company has discretion to grant waivers to permit transfers otherwise restricted by the Protective Amendment.
 
The foregoing summary is not a complete description of the Protective Amendment and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Protective Amendment, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 3.1 hereto and is incorporated by reference herein.
 
In accordance with the Protective Amendment, HNH requested, and the Company granted HNH and its affiliates, a waiver under the Protective Amendment to permit their acquisition of up to 45% of the Company’s outstanding shares of Common Stock in the aggregate (subject to proportionate adjustment, the “45% Cap”), in addition to acquisitions of Common Stock in connection with the exercise of certain warrants of the Company (the “Warrants”) held by Steel Partners Holdings L.P. (“SPH”), an affiliate of HNH, as well as a limited waiver under Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law for this purpose.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, HNH and its affiliates (and any group of which HNH or any of its affiliates is a member) are not permitted to acquire securities that would result in an “ownership change” of the Company for purposes of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, that would have the effect of impairing any of the Company’s NOLs.  The foregoing waiver was approved by the independent directors of the Company.
 
On January 5, 2015, the Company and HNH entered into Amendment No. 1 to their Settlement Agreement (“Amendment No. 1”) to reflect the 45% Cap and the expiration of the Settlement Agreement on February 13, 2015.  The foregoing summary is not a complete description of the terms of Amendment No.1 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of Amendment No. 1, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and is incorporated by reference herein. 
 
 
 
 
 
HNH and its affiliates may be deemed to own approximately 28.0% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock of the Company. In addition, SPH has the right to acquire up to 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company pursuant to the Warrants. Pursuant to the foregoing transactions and subject to the foregoing limitations, HNH and its affiliates have the right to acquire up to 45% of the outstanding shares of the Company, exclusive of the Warrants.  Warren G. Lichtenstein, the non-executive chairman of HNH and of SPH’s general partner, Steel Partners Holdings GP Inc., is also the non-executive chairman of the board of directors of the Company. Certain other affiliates of HNH hold positions with the Company, including Glen Kassan as Chief Administrative Officer and Vice Chairman.
 
Item 1.02 . Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.
 
The information set forth in Item 1.01 regarding the expiration of the Tax Benefit Preservation Plan is incorporated into this Item 1.02 by reference.
 
Item 3.03. Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.
 
The information set forth in Item 1.01 regarding the Protective Amendment, the waiver under the Protective Amendment and the expiration of the Tax Benefit Preservation Plan is incorporated into this Item 3.03 by reference.
 
Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
 
  The information set forth in Item 1.01 regarding the Protective Amendment is incorporated into this Item 5.03 by reference.
 
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
 
(d)  Exhibits.
 
Exhibit
No.
 
Description
 
3.1
Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
 
4.1
Amendment No. 3, dated December 31, 2014, to Tax Benefit Preservation Plan between ModusLink Global Solutions, Inc. and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as rights agent
 
10.1
Amendment No. 1 to Settlement Agreement, dated January 5, 2015, between ModusLink Global Solutions, Inc. and Handy & Harman Ltd.
 
 
 
 
 
SIGNATURE
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Current Report on Form 8-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 

January 5, 2015
ModusLink Global Solutions, Inc.
   
   
   
   
 
By:
/s/ Joseph B. Sherk
   
Name:
Joseph B. Sherk
   
Title:
Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer

 

 
Exhibit 3.1
 


STATE OF DELAWARE

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
 
OF THE
 
RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
 
OF
 
MODUSLINK GLOBAL SOLUTIONS, INC.
 
ModusLink Global Solutions, Inc. , a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ Corporation ”),
 
DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:
 
FIRST :  That resolutions were duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation setting forth this proposed Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation and declaring said Amendment to be advisable and recommended for approval by the stockholders of the Corporation.
 
SECOND :  This Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Amendment adds an Article SEVENTEENTH to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation to read in its entirety as follows:
 
SEVENTEENTH:
 
Section 1.   Definitions .
 
As used in this Article SEVENTEENTH , the following capitalized terms have the following meanings when used herein with initial capital letters (and any references to any portions of Treas. Reg. § 1.382-2T shall include any successor provisions):
 
 
( a)
“4.99-percent Transaction” means any Transfer described in clause (a) or (b) of Section 2 of this Article SEVENTEENTH .
 
 
(b)
“4.99-percent Stockholder” means a Person or group of Persons that is a “5-percent stockholder” of the corporation pursuant to Treas. Reg. § 1.382-2T(g), as applied by replacing “5-percent” with “4.99-percent” and “five percent” with “4.99 percent,” where applicable.
 
 
(c)
“Agent” has the meaning set forth in Section 5 of this Article SEVENTEENTH .
 
 
(d)
“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company.
 
 
(e)
“Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
 
 
(f)
“Company Security” or “Company Securities” means (i) any Stock, (ii) shares of preferred stock issued by the Company (other than preferred stock described in § 1504(a)(4) of the Code), and (iii) warrants, rights, or options (including options within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.382-2T(h)(4)(v) or Treas. Reg. § 1.382-4(d)(9)) to purchase securities of the Company.
 
 
 
 
 
 
(g)
“Effective Date” means the date of filing of this Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
 
 
(h)
“Excess Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 4 of this Article SEVENTEENTH .
 
 
(i)
“Expiration Date” means the earliest of (i) the close of business on the date that is the third anniversary of the Effective Date, (ii) the repeal of Section 382 of the Code or any successor statute if the Board of Directors determines that this Article SEVENTEENTH is no longer necessary or desirable for the preservation of Tax Benefits, (iii) the close of business on the first day of a taxable year of the Company as to which the Board of Directors determines that no Tax Benefits may be carried forward or (iv) such date as the Board of Directors shall fix in accordance with Section 12 of this Article SEVENTEENTH .
 
 
(j)
“Percentage Stock Ownership” means the percentage Stock Ownership interest of any Person or group (as the context may require) for purposes of Section 382 of the Code as determined in accordance with Treas. Reg. § 1.382-2T(g), (h), (j) and (k) and Treas. Reg. § 1.382-4, or any successor provisions and other pertinent Internal Revenue Service guidance.
 
 
(k)
“Person” means any individual, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, firm, corporation, unincorporated association or organization, trust or other entity or any group of such “Persons” having a formal or informal understanding among themselves to make a “coordinated acquisition” of shares within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.382-3(a)(1) or who are otherwise treated as an “entity” within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.382-3(a)(1), and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of any such entity or group.
 
 
(l)
“Prohibited Distributions” means any and all dividends or other distributions paid by the Company with respect to any Excess Securities received by a Purported Transferee.
 
 
(m)
“Prohibited Transfer” means any Transfer or purported Transfer of Company Securities to the extent that such Transfer is prohibited and/or void under this Article SEVENTEENTH .
 
 
(n)
“Public Group” has the meaning set forth in Treas. Reg. § 1.382-2T (f) (13).
 
 
(o)
“Purported Transferee” has the meaning set forth in Section 4 of this Article SEVENTEENTH .
 
 
(p)
“Remedial Holder” has the meaning set forth in Section 7 of this Article SEVENTEENTH .
 
 
(q)
“Stock” means any interest that would be treated as “stock” of the Company pursuant to Treas. Reg. § 1.382-2T (f) (18).
 
 
(r)
“Stock Ownership” means any direct or indirect ownership of Stock, including any ownership by virtue of application of constructive ownership rules, with such direct, indirect and constructive ownership determined under the provisions of Section 382 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder, including, for the avoidance of doubt, any ownership whereby a Person owns Stock pursuant to a “coordinated acquisition” treated as a single “entity” as defined in Treas. Reg. § 1.382-3(a)(1), or such Stock is otherwise aggregated with Stock owned by such Person pursuant to the provisions of Section 382 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.
 
 
 
 
 
 
(s)
“Tax Benefits” means the net operating loss carry forwards, capital loss carry forwards, general business credit carry forwards, alternative minimum tax credit carry forwards and foreign tax credit carry forwards, as well as any loss or deduction attributable to a “net unrealized built-in loss” of the Company or any direct or indirect subsidiary thereof, within the meaning of Section 382 of the Code.
 
 
(t)
“Transfer” means, any direct or indirect sale, transfer, assignment, conveyance, pledge or other disposition, event or occurrence or other action taken by a Person, other than the Company, that alters the Percentage Stock Ownership of any Person or group.  A Transfer also shall include the creation or grant of an option (including an option within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.382-4(d)).  For the avoidance of doubt, a Transfer shall not include the creation or grant of an option by the Company, nor shall a Transfer include the issuance of Stock by the Company.
 
 
(u)
“Transferee” means any Person to whom Company Securities are Transferred.
 
 
(v)
“Treasury Regulations” or “Treas. Reg.” means the regulations, including temporary regulations or any successor regulations, promulgated under the Code, as amended from time to time.
 
Section 2 .   Transfer and Ownership Restrictions .  In order to preserve the Tax Benefits, from and after the Effective Date of this Article SEVENTEENTH any attempted Transfer of Company Securities prior to the Expiration Date and any attempted Transfer of Company Securities pursuant to an agreement entered into prior to the Expiration Date shall be prohibited and void ab initio to the extent that, as a result of such Transfer (or any series of Transfers of which such Transfer is a part), either (a) any Person or Persons would become a 4.99-percent Stockholder or (b) the Percentage Stock Ownership in the Company of any 4.99-percent Stockholder would be increased. The prior sentence is not intended to prevent Company Securities from being DTC-eligible and shall not preclude the settlement of any transaction in Company Securities entered into through the facilities of a national securities exchange; provided , however , that the Company Securities and parties involved in such transaction shall remain subject to the provisions of this Article SEVENTEENTH in respect of such transaction.
 
Section 3.   Exceptions .
 
 
(a)
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Transfers to a Public Group (including a new Public Group created under Treas. Reg. § 1.382-2T (j) (3) (i)) shall be permitted.
 
 
(b)
The restrictions set forth in Section 2 of this Article SEVENTEENTH shall not apply to an attempted Transfer that is a 4.99-percent Transaction if the transferor or the Transferee obtains the written approval of the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof.  As a condition to granting its approval pursuant to this Section 3 of this Article SEVENTEENTH , the Board of Directors may, in its discretion, require (at the expense of the transferor and/or Transferee) an opinion of counsel selected by the Board of Directors that the Transfer shall not result in a limitation on the use of the Tax Benefits as a result of the application of Section 382 of the Code; provided that the Board of Directors may grant such approval notwithstanding the effect of such approval on the Tax Benefits if it determines that the approval is in the best interests of the Company. The Board of Directors may grant its approval in whole or in part with respect to such Transfer and may impose any conditions that it deems reasonable and appropriate in connection with such approval, including, without limitation, restrictions on the ability of any Transferee to Transfer Stock acquired through a Transfer.  Approvals of the Board of Directors hereunder may be given prospectively or retroactively.  The Board of Directors, to the fullest extent permitted by law, may exercise the authority granted by this Article SEVENTEENTH through duly authorized officers or agents of the Company.  Nothing in this Section 3 of this Article SEVENTEENTH shall be construed to limit or restrict the Board of Directors in the exercise of its fiduciary duties under applicable law.
 
 
 
 
 
Section 4.   Excess Securities .
 
 
(a)
No employee or agent of the Company shall record any Prohibited Transfer, and the purported transferee of such a Prohibited Transfer (the “Purported Transferee”) shall not be recognized as a stockholder of the Company for any purpose whatsoever in respect of the Company Securities which are the subject of the Prohibited Transfer (the “Excess Securities”).  The Purported Transferee shall not be entitled, with respect to such Excess Securities, to any rights of stockholders of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote such Excess Securities and to receive dividends or distributions, whether liquidating or otherwise, in respect thereof, if any, and the Excess Securities shall be deemed to remain with the transferor unless and until the Excess Securities are transferred to the Agent pursuant to Section 5 of this Article SEVENTEENTH or until an approval is obtained under Section 3 of this Article SEVENTEENTH . After the Excess Securities have been acquired in a Transfer that is not a Prohibited Transfer, the Company Securities shall cease to be Excess Securities.  For this purpose, any Transfer of Excess Securities not in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 or Section 5 of this Article SEVENTEENTH shall also be a Prohibited Transfer.
 
 
(b)
The Company may require as a condition to the registration of the Transfer of any Company Securities or the payment of any distribution on any Company Securities that the proposed Transferee or payee furnish to the Company all information reasonably requested by the Company with respect to its direct or indirect ownership interests in such Company Securities.  The Company may make such arrangements or issue such instructions to its stock transfer agent as may be determined by the Board of Directors to be necessary or advisable to implement this Article SEVENTEENTH , including, without limitation, authorizing such transfer agent to require an affidavit from a Purported Transferee regarding such Person’s actual and constructive ownership of Stock and other evidence that a Transfer will not be prohibited by this Article SEVENTEENTH as a condition to registering any transfer.
 
Section 5.   Transfer to Agent .   If the Board of Directors determines that a Transfer of Company Securities constitutes a Prohibited Transfer, then, upon written demand by the Company sent within thirty days of the date on which the Board of Directors determines that the attempted Transfer would result in Excess Securities, the Purported Transferee shall transfer or cause to be transferred any certificate or other evidence of ownership of the Excess Securities within the Purported Transferee’s possession or control, together with any Prohibited Distributions, to an agent designated by the Board of Directors (the “Agent”). The Agent shall thereupon sell to a buyer or buyers, which may include the Company, the Excess Securities transferred to it in one or more arm’s-length transactions (on the public securities market on which such Excess Securities are traded, if possible, or otherwise privately); provided , however , that any such sale must not constitute a Prohibited Transfer and provided , further , that the Agent shall effect such sale or sales in an orderly fashion and shall not be required to effect any such sale within any specific time frame if, in the Agent’s discretion, such sale or sales would disrupt the market for the Company Securities or otherwise would adversely affect the value of the Company Securities. If the Purported Transferee has resold the Excess Securities before receiving the Company’s demand to surrender Excess Securities to the Agent, the Purported Transferee shall be deemed to have sold the Excess Securities for the Agent, and shall be required to transfer to the Agent any Prohibited Distributions and proceeds of such sale, except to the extent that the Company grants written permission to the Purported Transferee to retain a portion of such sale proceeds not exceeding the amount that the Purported Transferee would have received from the Agent pursuant to Section 6 of this Article SEVENTEENTH if the Agent rather than the Purported Transferee had resold the Excess Securities.
 
 
 
 
 
Section 6.   Application of Proceeds and Prohibited Distributions .  The Agent shall apply any proceeds of a sale by it of Excess Securities and, if the Purported Transferee has previously resold the Excess Securities, any amounts received by it from a Purported Transferee, together, in either case, with any Prohibited Distributions, as follows: (i) first, such amounts shall be paid to the Agent to the extent necessary to cover its costs and expenses incurred in connection with its duties hereunder; (ii) second, any remaining amounts shall be paid to the Purported Transferee, up to the amount paid by the Purported Transferee for the Excess Securities (or the fair market value at the time of the Transfer, in the event the purported Transfer of the Excess Securities was, in whole or in part, a gift, inheritance or similar Transfer) which amount (or fair market value) shall be determined at the discretion of the Board of Directors; and (iii) third, any remaining amounts shall be paid to one or more organizations selected by the Board of Directors which is described under Section 501(c)(3) of the Code (or any comparable successor provision) and contributions to which are eligible for deduction under each of Sections 170(b)(1)(A), 2055 and 2552 of the Code. The Purported Transferee of Excess Securities shall have no claim, cause of action or any other recourse whatsoever against any transferor of Excess Securities.  The Purported Transferee’s sole right with respect to such shares shall be limited to the amount payable to the Purported Transferee pursuant to this Section 6 of this Article SEVENTEENTH .  In no event shall the proceeds of any sale of Excess Securities pursuant to this Section 6 of this Article SEVENTEENTH inure to the benefit of the Company or the Agent, except to the extent used to cover costs and expenses incurred by Agent in performing its duties hereunder.
 
Section 7.   Modification of Remedies for Certain Indirect Transfers .  In the event of any Transfer which does not involve a transfer of Company Securities within the meaning of Delaware law but which would cause a 4.99-percent Stockholder to violate a restriction on Transfers provided for in this Article SEVENTEENTH , the application of Sections 5 and 6 of this Article SEVENTEENTH shall be modified as described in this Section 7 of this Article SEVENTEENTH .  In such case, no such 4.99-percent Stockholder shall be required to dispose of any interest that is not a Company Security, but such 4.99-percent Stockholder and/or any Person whose ownership of Company Securities is attributed to such 4.99-percent Stockholder (such 4.99-percent Stockholder or other Person, a “Remedial Holder”) shall be deemed to have disposed of and shall be required to dispose of sufficient Company Securities (which Company Securities shall be disposed of in the inverse order in which they were acquired) to cause such 4.99-percent Stockholder, following such disposition, not to be in violation of this Article SEVENTEENTH . Such disposition shall be deemed to occur simultaneously with the Transfer giving rise to the application of this provision, and such number of Company Securities that are deemed to be disposed of shall be considered Excess Securities and shall be disposed of through the Agent as provided in Sections 5 and 6 of this Article SEVENTEENTH , except that the maximum aggregate amount payable to a Remedial Holder in connection with such sale shall be the fair market value of such Excess Securities at the time of the purported Transfer. A Remedial Holder shall not be entitled, with respect to such Excess Securities, to any rights of stockholders of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote such Excess Securities and to receive dividends or distributions, whether liquidating or otherwise, in respect thereof, if any, following the time of the purported Transfer.  All expenses incurred by the Agent in disposing of such Excess Stock shall be paid out of any amounts due such 4.99-percent Stockholder or such other Person.  The purpose of this Section 7 of this Article SEVENTEENTH is to extend the restrictions in Sections 2 and 5 of this Article SEVENTEENTH to situations in which there is a 4.99-percent Transaction without a direct Transfer of Company Securities, and this Section 7 of this Article SEVENTEENTH , along with the other provisions of this Article SEVENTEENTH , shall be interpreted to produce the same results, with differences as the context requires, as a direct Transfer of Company Securities.
 
 
 
 
 
Section 8.   Legal Proceedings; Prompt Enforcement .  If the Purported Transferee fails to surrender the Excess Securities or the proceeds of a sale thereof to the Agent within thirty days from the date on which the Company makes a written demand pursuant to Section 5 of this Article SEVENTEENTH (whether or not made within the time specified in Section 5 of this Article SEVENTEENTH ), then the Company may take such actions as it deems appropriate to enforce the provisions hereof, including the institution of legal proceedings to compel the surrender. Nothing in this Section 8 of this Article SEVENTEENTH shall (i) be deemed inconsistent with any Transfer of the Excess Securities provided in this Article SEVENTEENTH being void ab initio , (ii) preclude the Company in its discretion from immediately bringing legal proceedings without a prior demand or (iii) cause any failure of the Company to act within the time periods set forth in Section 5 of this Article SEVENTEENTH to constitute a waiver or loss of any right of the Company under this Article SEVENTEENTH . The Board of Directors may authorize such additional actions as it deems advisable to give effect to the provisions of this Article SEVENTEENTH .
 
Section 9.   Liability .  To the fullest extent permitted by law, any stockholder subject to the provisions of this Article SEVENTEENTH who knowingly violates the provisions of this Article SEVENTEENTH and any Persons controlling, controlled by or under common control with such stockholder shall be jointly and severally liable to the Company for, and shall indemnify and hold the Company harmless against, any and all damages suffered as a result of such violation, including but not limited to damages resulting from a reduction in, or elimination of, the Company’s ability to utilize its Tax Benefits, and attorneys’ and auditors’ fees incurred in connection with such violation.
 
Section 10.   Obligation to Provide Information .  As a condition to the registration of the Transfer of any Stock, any Person who is a beneficial, legal or record holder of Stock, and any proposed Transferee and any Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with the proposed Transferee, shall provide such information as the Company may request from time to time in order to determine compliance with this Article SEVENTEENTH or the status of the Tax Benefits of the Company.
 
Section 11.   Legends .  The Board of Directors may require that any certificates issued by the Company evidencing ownership of shares of Stock that are subject to the restrictions on transfer and ownership contained in this Article SEVENTEENTH bear the following legend:
 
“THE RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF THE COMPANY CONTAINS RESTRICTIONS PROHIBITING THE TRANSFER (AS DEFINED IN THE RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION) OF STOCK OF THE COMPANY (INCLUDING THE CREATION OR GRANT OF CERTAIN OPTIONS, RIGHTS AND WARRANTS) WITHOUT THE PRIOR AUTHORIZATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY (THE “BOARD OF DIRECTORS”) IF SUCH TRANSFER AFFECTS THE PERCENTAGE OF STOCK OF THE COMPANY (WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 382 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) AND THE TREASURY REGULATIONS PROMULGATED THEREUNDER) THAT IS TREATED AS OWNED BY A 4.99-PERCENT STOCKHOLDER (AS DEFINED IN THE RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION). IF THE TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS ARE VIOLATED, THEN THE TRANSFER WILL BE VOID AB INITIO AND THE PURPORTED TRANSFEREE OF THE STOCK WILL BE REQUIRED TO TRANSFER EXCESS SECURITIES (AS DEFINED IN THE RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION) TO THE COMPANY’S AGENT.  IN THE EVENT OF A TRANSFER WHICH DOES NOT INVOLVE SECURITIES OF THE COMPANY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (“SECURITIES”) BUT WHICH WOULD VIOLATE THE TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS, THE PURPORTED TRANSFEREE (OR THE RECORD OWNER) OF THE SECURITIES THAT VIOLATE THE TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS WILL BE REQUIRED TO TRANSFER SUFFICIENT SECURITIES PURSUANT TO THE TERMS PROVIDED FOR IN THE RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO CAUSE THE 4.99-PERCENT STOCKHOLDER TO NO LONGER BE IN VIOLATION OF THE TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS. THE COMPANY WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE HOLDER OF RECORD OF THIS CERTIFICATE A COPY OF THE RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION CONTAINING THE ABOVE-REFERENCED TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE COMPANY AT ITS PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS.”
 
 
 
 
 
The Board of Directors may also require that any certificates issued by the Company evidencing ownership of shares of Stock that are subject to conditions imposed by the Board of Directors under Section 3 of this Article SEVENTEENTH also bear a conspicuous legend referencing the applicable restrictions.
 
Section 12.   Authority of Board of Directors .
 
 
(a)
The Board of Directors shall have the power to determine all matters necessary for assessing compliance with this Article SEVENTEENTH , including, without limitation, (1) the identification of 4.99-percent Stockholders, (2) whether a Transfer is a 4.99]-percent Transaction or a Prohibited Transfer, (3) the Percentage Stock Ownership in the Company of any 4.99-percent Stockholder, (4) whether an instrument constitutes a Company Security, (5) the amount (or fair market value) due to a Purported Transferee pursuant to Section 6 of this Article SEVENTEENTH , and (6) any other matters which the Board of Directors determines to be relevant; and the good faith determination of the Board of Directors on such matters shall be conclusive and binding for all the purposes of this Article SEVENTEENTH . In addition, the Board of Directors may, to the extent permitted by law, from time to time establish, modify, amend or rescind by-laws, regulations and procedures of the Company not inconsistent with the provisions of this Article SEVENTEENTH for purposes of determining whether any Transfer of Company Securities would jeopardize or endanger the Company’s ability to preserve and use the Tax Benefits and for the orderly application, administration and implementation of this Article SEVENTEENTH .
 
 
(b)
Nothing contained in this Article SEVENTEENTH shall limit the authority of the Board of Directors to take such other action to the extent permitted by law as it deems necessary or advisable to protect the Company and its stockholders in preserving the Tax Benefits.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event of a change in law making one or more of the following actions necessary or desirable, the Board of Directors may, by adopting a written resolution, (1) accelerate the Expiration Date, (2) modify the ownership interest percentage in the Company or the Persons or groups covered by this Article SEVENTEENTH , (3) modify the definitions of any terms set forth in this Article SEVENTEENTH or (4) modify the terms of this Article SEVENTEENTH as appropriate, in each case, in order to prevent an ownership change for purposes of Section 382 of the Code as a result of any changes in applicable Treasury Regulations or otherwise; provided , however , that the Board of Directors shall not cause there to be such acceleration or modification unless it determines, by adopting a written resolution, that such action is reasonably necessary or advisable to preserve the Tax Benefits or that the continuation of these restrictions is no longer reasonably necessary for the preservation of the Tax Benefits. Stockholders of the Company shall be notified of such determination through a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission or such other method of notice as the Secretary of the Company shall deem appropriate.
 
 
 
 
 
 
(c)
In the case of an ambiguity in the application of any of the provisions of this Article SEVENTEENTH , including any definition used herein, the Board of Directors shall have the power to determine the application of such provisions with respect to any situation based on its reasonable belief, understanding or knowledge of the circumstances.  In the event this Article SEVENTEENTH requires an action by the Board of Directors but fails to provide specific guidance with respect to such action, the Board of Directors shall have the power to determine the action to be taken so long as such action is not contrary to the provisions of this Article SEVENTEENTH .  All such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations which are done or made by the Board of Directors in good faith shall be conclusive and binding on the Company, the Agent, and all other parties for all other purposes of this Article SEVENTEENTH .  The Board of Directors may delegate all or any portion of its duties and powers under this Article SEVENTEENTH to a committee of the Board of Directors as it deems necessary or advisable and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, may exercise the authority granted by this Article SEVENTEENTH through duly authorized officers or agents of the Company.  Nothing in this Article SEVENTEENTH shall be construed to limit or restrict the Board of Directors in its exercise of its fiduciary duties under applicable law.
 
Section 13.   Reliance .  To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company and the members of the Board of Directors shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the information, opinions, reports or statements of the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer, the chief accounting officer or the corporate controller of the Company and the Company’s legal counsel, independent auditors, transfer agent, investment bankers or other employees and agents in making the determinations and findings contemplated by this Article SEVENTEENTH . The members of the Board of Directors shall not be responsible for any good faith errors made in connection therewith.  For purposes of determining the existence and identity of, and the amount of any Company Securities owned by, any stockholder, the Company is entitled to rely on the existence and absence of filings of Schedule 13D or 13G under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (or similar filings), as of any date, subject to its actual knowledge of the ownership of Company Securities.
 
Section 14.   Benefits of this Article SEVENTEENTH .  Nothing in this Article SEVENTEENTH shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Company or the Agent any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Article SEVENTEENTH .  This Article SEVENTEENTH shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company and the Agent.
 
Section 15.   Severability .  The purpose of this Article SEVENTEENTH is to facilitate the Company’s ability to maintain or preserve its Tax Benefits.  If any provision of this Article SEVENTEENTH or the application of any such provision to any Person or under any circumstance shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Article SEVENTEENTH .
 
 
 
 
 
Section 16.   Waiver .  With regard to any power, remedy or right provided herein or otherwise available to the Company or the Agent under this Article SEVENTEENTH , (i) no waiver will be effective unless expressly contained in a writing signed by the waiving party and (ii) no alteration, modification or impairment will be implied by reason of any previous waiver, extension of time, delay or omission in exercise or other indulgence.
 
THIRD : That, pursuant to resolution of its Board of Directors, an annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation was duly called and held, upon notice in accordance with Section 222 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, at which meeting the necessary number of shares as required by applicable law was voted in favor of the Amendment.
 
FOURTH : That said Amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
 

 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the Corporation has caused this Certificate of Amendment of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be executed on this 29 th day of December, 2014.
 
 
MODUSLINK GLOBAL SOLUTIONS, INC.
   
   
 
By:
/s/Joseph B. Sherk
   
Name:
Joseph B. Sherk
   
Title:
Principal Financial and Accounting Officer

Exhibit 4.1
 


AMENDMENT NO. 3
TO
TAX BENEFIT PRESERVATION PLAN
 
AMENDMENT NO. 3 to TAX BENEFIT PRESERVATION PLAN (this “Amendment”) between ModusLink Global Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as rights agent (the “Rights Agent”) is effective prior to the close of business on this 31st day of December, 2014.
 
WHEREAS, the Company and the Rights Agent are parties to a Tax Benefit Preservation Plan, dated as of October 17, 2011, amended by Amendment No. 1 dated March 21, 2012 and amended by Amendment No. 2 dated October 17, 2014 (the “Plan”);
 
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company deems it is advisable and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to amend certain provisions of the Plan;
 
WHEREAS, no Person (as defined in the Plan) has become an Acquiring Person (as defined in the Plan); and
 
WHEREAS, pursuant to and in accordance with Section 26 of the Plan, the Company desires to amend the Plan as set forth below.
 
NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan is hereby amended as follows:
 
1.              Amendments .
 
(a)           Clause (i) of Section 7.1 of the Plan is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
 
“(i) the close of business on December 31, 2014 (the “ Final Expiration Date ”)”.
  
(b)           Each of the Legend and Paragraph one of the Form of Right Certificate, attached as Exhibit B to the Plan, is amended so that the references to “October 17, 2017” are replaced with “December 31, 2014”.

(c)           The fifth paragraph of the Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Stock, attached as Exhibit C to the Plan, is amended so that the reference to “October 17, 2017” is replaced with “December 31, 2014”.
 
2.              Effect of this Amendment .  It is the intent of the parties that this Amendment constitutes an amendment of the Plan as contemplated by Section 26 thereof.  This Amendment shall be deemed effective as of the date hereof as if executed by both parties hereto on such date.
  
3.              Counterparts .  This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and each of such counterpart shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.
 
 
 
 
 
4.              Governing Law .  This Amendment shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of Delaware 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.              Severability .  If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Amendment is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Amendment shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
 
6.              Descriptive Headings .  The captions herein are included for convenience of reference only, do not constitute a part of this Amendment and shall be ignored in the construction and interpretation hereof.
 
[ Signature Page Follows ]
 
 
 
 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed as of the date set forth above.
 
 
 
MODUSLINK GLOBAL SOLUTIONS, INC.
   
   
 
By:
/s/ John Boucher
 
Name:
John Boucher 
 
Title:
President and Chief Executive Officer 
   
   
 
AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC
   
   
 
By:
 
 
Name:
 
 
Title:
 
 

 
Exhibit 10.1
 

 
AMENDMENT NO.1
TO
Settlement Agreement
 
AMENDMENT NO. 1 to Settlement Agreement (the “ Agreement ”) dated January 5, 2015 (this “Amendment”) by and between ModusLink Global Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and Handy & Harman Ltd., a Delaware corporation (“ HNH ” and together with the parties listed on Exhibit A thereto, the “ Stockholder ”).  Each of the Company and the Stockholder is referred to herein as a “ Party ” and collectively as the “ Parties ”.  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning given to such terms in the Agreement.
 
WHEREAS, the Continuing Directors Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company and the Stockholder deem it advisable and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to amend certain provisions of the Agreement;
 
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has granted waivers to the Stockholder and its Affiliates and Associates to permit their acquisition of securities of the Company up to the 45% Cap (as defined below) and the acquisition of the shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants, in each case under Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law and the Amendment to the Company’s Restated Certification of Incorporation filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on December 29, 2014;

WHEREAS, pursuant to and in accordance with Section 19 of the Agreement, the Parties desire to amend the Agreement as set forth below.
 
NOW, THEREFORE, the Agreement is hereby amended as follows:
 
1.           Paragraph (a) of Section 5. Standstill is amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

(a)      During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on February 13, 2015 (the “ Share Acquisition Period ”), without the prior consent of a majority of the Continuing Directors or except as otherwise expressly provided below, neither the Stockholder nor any of its Affiliates shall acquire, or propose to acquire, “beneficial ownership” (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) of any equity securities, or rights or options to acquire any such securities (through purchase, exchange, conversion or otherwise), of the Company, including derivative securities representing the right to vote or economic benefits of any such securities, provided, that the Stockholder and its Affiliates’ ownership in the outstanding Common Stock of the Company shall not exceed forty-five (45%) of the then outstanding Common Stock when combined with other Equity Interests of the Company beneficially owned by HNH, the Stockholder or any of their respective Affiliates as of the date hereof (after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by the Investment Agreement (excluding the issuance or exercise of the Warrants)) (which, for purposes of such calculation, shall include shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of then-outstanding preferred stock) (the “ 45% Cap ”) during the Share Acquisition Period,  provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing restrictions (including, without limitation, the 45% Cap), the Stockholder and its Affiliates (including HNH) shall be permitted to acquire (i)  the Common Stock underlying the Warrants set forth and in accordance with the terms of the Warrants and (ii) securities as a result of, or offered pursuant to, any share division or split, share consolidation, stock/share dividend or equivalent under Delaware law, combination, recapitalization, rights offering or similar events.
 
 
 
 
 
2.            Effect of this Amendment .  It is the intent of the parties that this Amendment constitutes an amendment of the Agreement as contemplated by Section 19 thereof.  This Amendment shall be deemed effective as of the date hereof as if executed by both parties hereto on such date.  Except as expressly provided in this Amendment, the terms of the Agreement remain in full force and effect.
 
3.            Counterparts .  This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and each of such counterpart shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.
 
4.            Governing Law .  This Amendment shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of Delaware 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.            Severability .  If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Amendment is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Amendment shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
 
6.            Descriptive Headings .  The captions herein are included for convenience of reference only, do not constitute a part of this Amendment and shall be ignored in the construction and interpretation hereof.
 
[ Signature Page Follows ]
 
 
 
 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed as of the date set forth above.
 
 
 
MODUSLINK GLOBAL SOLUTIONS, INC.
   
   
 
By:
/s/ John Boucher
 
Name:
John Boucher 
 
Title:
President and Chief Executive Officer 
   
   
 
HANDY & HARMAN LTD.
   
   
 
By:
/s/ James F. McCabe Jr.
 
Name:
James F. McCabe Jr. 
 
Title:
Chief Financial Officer