Description of Securities

Under our charter, our authorized capital stock consists of 600,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share and 500,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $100 per share, issuable in series. As of January 31, 2020, there were 170,579,096 shares of common stock outstanding and no shares of preferred stock outstanding.

The holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held and each share of our common stock is entitled to participate equally in dividends out of funds legally available therefor, as and when declared by our board of directors, and in the distribution of assets in the event of liquidation. The shares of our common stock have no preemptive or conversion rights, redemption provisions or sinking fund provisions. The outstanding shares of our common stock are duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and any shares of our common stock issued in a conversion of the notes will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “MSI.” The Transfer Agent and Registrar for our common stock is EQ Shareowner Services, 1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite 101, Mendota Heights, Minnesota 55120.

Our board of directors is authorized to create and issue one or more series of preferred stock and to determine the rights and preferences of each series, to the extent permitted by our charter. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could also adversely affect the voting power and dividend and liquidation rights of the holders of common stock. The issuance of preferred stock could also, under certain circumstances, have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or discouraging a third party from acquiring, a majority of our outstanding voting stock or otherwise adversely affect the market price of our common stock. It is not possible to state the actual effect of the issuance of any shares of preferred stock on the rights of holders of common stock until the board of directors determines the specific rights of that series of preferred stock.

You should refer to the certificate of designations establishing a particular series of preferred stock which will be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with any offering of preferred stock.

 

Each prospectus relating to a series of preferred stock may describe material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the purchase, holding and disposition of such series of preferred stock.

Certain provisions of our charter, our bylaws and Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) may have anti-takeover effects. The provisions are designed to reduce, or have the effect of reducing, our vulnerability to unsolicited takeover attempts. For example, the additional shares of authorized common stock and preferred stock available for issuance under our charter could be issued at such times, under such circumstances, and with such terms and conditions as to impede a change in control. We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL, which prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. A “business combination” includes mergers, asset sales and other transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Subject to specified exceptions, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns, or within three years did own, 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock.

Our charter eliminates the liability of our directors to us or our stockholders for monetary damages resulting from breaches of their fiduciary duties as directors. Directors remain liable for breaches of their duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders, as well as for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, and transactions from which a director derives improper personal benefit. Our charter does not absolve directors of liability for payment of dividends or stock purchases or redemptions by us in violation of Section 174 (or any successor provision) of the DGCL.

The effect of this provision is to eliminate the personal liability of directors for monetary damages for actions involving a breach of their fiduciary duty of care, including any such actions involving gross negligence. We do not believe that this provision eliminates the liability of our directors to us or our stockholders for monetary damages under the federal securities laws. The charter and bylaws also provide indemnification for the benefit of our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as it may be amended from time to time, including most circumstances under which indemnification otherwise would be discretionary.