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  <TITLE>Form 8-K dtd 12/06/2002</TITLE>
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   <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="3" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000" ALIGN="left"><DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="5"
  COLOR="#000000"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="1"
  NOSHADE WIDTH="17%" COLOR="#000000"><DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000"><B>FORM 8-K </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT
  FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000"><B>CURRENT REPORT </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000"><B>Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The
  Securities Exchange Act of 1934 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000"><B>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):&nbsp;&nbsp;December 6, 2002
  </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="6" COLOR="#000000"><B>RATIONAL SOFTWARE CORPORATION </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1"
  COLOR="#000000"><B>(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="1" NOSHADE WIDTH="17%" COLOR="#000000"><DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center">
  <TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0">
  
  <TR>
  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Delaware</B></FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>000-12167</B></FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>54-1217099</B></FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
  <TR>
  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(State or other jurisdiction</B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>of
  incorporation)</B></FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(Commission</B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>File
  Number)</B></FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(IRS Employer</B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>Identification
  No.)</B></FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
   </TABLE> </DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>1880 Homestead Road </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT
  FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Cupertino, California 95014 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(Address of principal executive offices) </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT
  SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code: (408) 863-9900<U></U> </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <HR
  SIZE="3" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000" ALIGN="left">
  
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   <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Item 5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Other Events </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV STYLE="text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Rational Software Corporation, a Delaware Corporation (the &#147;Company&#148;), has entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger among International Business Machines
  Corporation, a New York Corporation (&#147;IBM&#148;), Barron Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of IBM (&#147;Merger Sub&#148;), and the Company (the &#147;Merger Agreement&#148;), pursuant to which Merger Sub
  will be merged with and into the Company (the &#147;Merger&#148;) and Rational will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of IBM. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV STYLE="text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"
  COLOR="#000000">Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, each share of common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (the &#147;Company Common Stock&#148;), will be converted into the right to receive $10.50 in cash, without interest.
  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV STYLE="text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">The Merger is conditioned upon, among other things, (i) approval of the holders of the Company Common Stock, (ii)
  clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, the European Commission Merger Regulation and the receipt of other material approvals under applicable antitrust laws, and (iii) other customary conditions. The Merger is
  expected to close in the first quarter of 2003. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV STYLE="text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">In connection with the Merger Agreement, the Company has entered
  into a Development and Reseller Agreement with IBM, dated as of December 6, 2002 (the &#147;Commercial Agreement&#148;), pursuant to which Rational has agreed to, among other things, develop, maintain, enhance and support software supporting
  specified IBM products for a period of three years. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV STYLE="text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">On December 6, 2002, the Company and IBM issued a press
  release (the &#147;Press Release&#148;) regarding the execution of the Merger Agreement. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV STYLE="text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">The foregoing
  descriptions of the Merger Agreement, the Commercial Agreement and the Press Release is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Merger Agreement, the Commercial Agreement and the Press Release, which are filed as Exhibits 2.1, 2.2 and 99.1
  hereto, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Item 7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Financial Statements and Exhibits
  </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
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  <TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)</FONT></DIV></TD>
  <TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV></TD>
  <TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Exhibits. </FONT></DIV> </TD></TR></TABLE> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center">
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  <TR>
  <TD VALIGN="top" WIDTH="5%"> <DIV STYLE="margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">2.1</FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="94%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of December 6, 2002, by and among International Business Machines Corporation, Barron Acquisition Corp. and Rational
  Software Corporation.</FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
  <TR>
  <TD HEIGHT="8"> </TD> </TR>
  <TR>
  <TD VALIGN="top" WIDTH="5%"> <DIV STYLE="margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">2.2</FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="94%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Development and Reseller Agreement dated as of December 6, 2002, between Rational Software Corporation and International Business Machines
  Corporation.</FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
  <TR>
  <TD HEIGHT="8"> </TD> </TR>
  <TR>
  <TD VALIGN="top" WIDTH="5%"> <DIV STYLE="margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">99.1</FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="94%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Press Release of Rational Software Corporation and International Business Machines Corporation, issued on December 6, 2002.</FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
   </TABLE> </DIV>
   <P></P> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">2 </FONT></DIV>
  
  
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   <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>SIGNATURE </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV
  STYLE="text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Pursuant to the requirements 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. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="right">
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  <TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3" WIDTH="37%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>RATIONAL SOFTWARE CORPORATION</B></FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
  <TR>
  <TD HEIGHT="27"> </TD> </TR>
  <TR>
  <TD VALIGN="top" WIDTH="2%"> <DIV STYLE="margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">By:</FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="top" WIDTH="37%"> <DIV STYLE="margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;M<SMALL>ICHAEL</SMALL> T. D<SMALL>EVLIN</SMALL></FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="1" NOSHADE
  COLOR="#000000" ALIGN="left"></TD> </TR>
  <TR>
  <TD> <FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="37%"> <DIV STYLE="margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Michael T. Devlin</FONT></DIV> <DIV STYLE="margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"
  COLOR="#000000">Chief Executive Officer</FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
   </TABLE> </DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV STYLE="margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Date: December 6, 2002 </FONT></DIV>
   <P></P> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">3 </FONT></DIV>
  
  
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   <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV
  ALIGN="center">
  <TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0">
  
  <TR>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>Exhibit&nbsp;No.</B></FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="1" NOSHADE WIDTH="55" ALIGN="left" COLOR="#000000"></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="90%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>Description</B></FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="1" NOSHADE WIDTH="60" ALIGN="left" COLOR="#000000"></TD> </TR>
  <TR>
  <TD HEIGHT="8"> </TD> </TR>
  <TR>
  <TD VALIGN="top" WIDTH="9%"> <DIV STYLE="margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">2.1</FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="90%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of December 6, 2002, by and among International Business Machines Corporation, Barron Acquisition Corp. and Rational
  Software Corporation.</FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
  <TR>
  <TD HEIGHT="8"> </TD> </TR>
  <TR>
  <TD VALIGN="top" WIDTH="9%"> <DIV STYLE="margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">2.2</FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="90%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Development and Reseller Agreement dated as of December 6, 2002, between Rational Software Corporation and International Business Machines
  Corporation.</FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
  <TR>
  <TD HEIGHT="8"> </TD> </TR>
  <TR>
  <TD VALIGN="top" WIDTH="9%"> <DIV STYLE="margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">99.1</FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="90%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Press Release of Rational Software Corporation and International Business Machines Corporation, issued on December 6, 2002.</FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
   </TABLE> </DIV>
   <P></P> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">4 </FONT></DIV>
  
   </BODY></HTML>
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metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "RATIONAL SOFTWARE CORP", "cik": "0000722056", "assigned-sic": "7372", "irs-number": "541217099", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0331"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-12167", "film-number": "02852718"}, "business-address": {"street1": "18880 HOMESTEAD RD", "city": "CUPERTINO", "state": "CA", "zip": "95014", "phone": "4088639900"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "18880 HOMESTEAD RD", "city": "CUPERTINO", "state": "CA", "zip": "95014"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "VERDIX CORP", "date-changed": "19920703"}}
text: Form 8-K dtd 12/06/2002
  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):  December 6, 2002
  RATIONAL SOFTWARE CORPORATION
  (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  Delaware
  000-12167
  54-1217099
  (State or other jurisdiction
  of
  incorporation)
  (Commission
  File
  Number)
  (IRS Employer
  Identification
  No.)
  1880 Homestead Road
  Cupertino, California 95014
  (Address of principal executive offices)
  Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (408) 863-9900
  Item 5.    Other Events
  Rational Software Corporation, a Delaware Corporation (the "Company"), has entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger among International Business Machines
  Corporation, a New York Corporation ("IBM"), Barron Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of IBM ("Merger Sub"), and the Company (the "Merger Agreement"), pursuant to which Merger Sub
  will be merged with and into the Company (the "Merger") and Rational will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of IBM.
  Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, each share of common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (the "Company Common Stock"), will be converted into the right to receive $10.50 in cash, without interest.
  The Merger is conditioned upon, among other things, (i) approval of the holders of the Company Common Stock, (ii)
  clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, the European Commission Merger Regulation and the receipt of other material approvals under applicable antitrust laws, and (iii) other customary conditions. The Merger is
  expected to close in the first quarter of 2003.
  In connection with the Merger Agreement, the Company has entered
  into a Development and Reseller Agreement with IBM, dated as of December 6, 2002 (the "Commercial Agreement"), pursuant to which Rational has agreed to, among other things, develop, maintain, enhance and support software supporting
  specified IBM products for a period of three years.
  On December 6, 2002, the Company and IBM issued a press
  release (the "Press Release") regarding the execution of the Merger Agreement.
  The foregoing
  descriptions of the Merger Agreement, the Commercial Agreement and the Press Release is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Merger Agreement, the Commercial Agreement and the Press Release, which are filed as Exhibits 2.1, 2.2 and 99.1
  hereto, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.
  Item 7.    Financial Statements and Exhibits
  (c)
  Exhibits.
  2.1
  Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of December 6, 2002, by and among International Business Machines Corporation, Barron Acquisition Corp. and Rational
  Software Corporation.
  2.2
  Development and Reseller Agreement dated as of December 6, 2002, between Rational Software Corporation and International Business Machines
  Corporation.
  99.1
  Press Release of Rational Software Corporation and International Business Machines Corporation, issued on December 6, 2002.
  2
  SIGNATURE
  Pursuant to the requirements 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.
  RATIONAL SOFTWARE CORPORATION
  By:
  /s/    M
  ICHAEL
  T. D
  EVLIN
  Michael T. Devlin
  Chief Executive Officer
  Date: December 6, 2002
  3
  EXHIBIT INDEX
  Exhibit No.
  Description
  2.1
  Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of December 6, 2002, by and among International Business Machines Corporation, Barron Acquisition Corp. and Rational
  Software Corporation.
  2.2
  Development and Reseller Agreement dated as of December 6, 2002, between Rational Software Corporation and International Business Machines
  Corporation.
  99.1
  Press Release of Rational Software Corporation and International Business Machines Corporation, issued on December 6, 2002.
  4