<PAGE>
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on December 30, 1997
Registration No.
_____________________________________________________________________
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
__________________
FORM 8-A
FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) or 12(g) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
NOVASTAR FINANCIAL, INC.
------------------------
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Maryland 48-1190054
-------- ----------
(State of Incorporation or Organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
1900 West 47th Place, Suite 205
Westwood, Kansas 66205
---------------- -----
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
If this Form relates to the If this Form relates to the
registration of a class of debt registration of a class of debt
securities and is effective upon securities and is to become effective
filing pursuant to General simultaneously with the effectiveness
Instruction A(c)(1) please check the of a concurrent registration
following box. [_] statement under the Securities Act of
1933 pursuant to General Instruction
A(c)(2) please check the following
box. [_]
Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form
relates: ___________________
(If Applicable)
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class Name of each exchange on which
to be so registered each class is to be registered
- ------------------- ------------------------------
Stock Purchase Warrants New York Stock Exchange
- ----------------------- -----------------------
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Not applicable
(Title of class)
<PAGE>
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 1. Description of Registrant's Securities To Be Registered
-------------------------------------------------------
The title of the securities of NovaStar Financial, Inc., a Maryland
corporation (the "Registrant"), being registered hereby are Stock
Purchase Warrants ("Warrants"), exercisable pursuant to a Warrant
Agreement, dated December 9, 1996 (the "Warrant Agreement"), by and
between the Registrant and the initial purchasers of the Warrants,
such Warrants exercisable at a price of $15.00 for a like number of
underlying shares of the Registrant's Common Stock, par value $0.01
per share.
A description of the Warrants is contained a Shelf Registration
Statement being filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
simultaneously herewith under the captions "Prospectus Summary,"
"Description of Warrants" and "Federal Income Tax Considerations,"
which description is incorporated herein by reference thereto.
Item 2. Exhibits
--------
Instruments defining the rights of holders of the securities being
registered hereunder:
3.1* Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the Registrant
3.2* Articles Supplementary of the Registrant
3.3* Bylaws of the Registrant
4.3* Specimen Common Stock Certificate
4.4* Specimen Warrant Certificate (included in Exhibit 10.3)
10.2* Registration Rights Agreement, dated December 9, 1996
10.3* Warrant Agreement, dated December 9, 1996 between the
Registrant and the Holders of the Warrants Acting Through the
Registrant as the Initial Warrant Agent (including Specimen
Warrant Certificate)
______________________________
* Incorporated by reference to the correspondingly numbered
exhibit to (i) a Registration Statement on Form S-11, as
amended, Registration No. 333-3237, and (ii) the Shelf
Registration Statement being filed simultaneously herewith by
the Registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this registration statement
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date: December 23, 1997
NovaStar Financial, Inc.
By: /s/ Mark J. Kohlrus
----------------------------------
Mark J. Kohlrus
Senior Vice President, Treasurer
and Chief Financial Officer
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number
- --------------
3.1* Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the Registrant
3.2* Articles Supplementary of the Registrant
3.3* Bylaws of the Registrant
4.3* Specimen Common Stock Certificate
4.4* Specimen Warrant Certificate (included in Exhibit 10.3)
10.2* Registration Rights Agreement, dated December 9, 1996
10.3* Warrant Agreement, dated December 9, 1996 between the Registrant and
the Holders of the Warrants Acting Through the Registrant as the
Initial Warrant Agent (including Specimen Warrant Certificate)
______________________________
* Incorporated by reference to the correspondingly numbered exhibit to (i)
a Registration Statement on Form S-11, as amended, Registration No.
333-3237, and (ii) the Shelf Registration Statement being filed
simultaneously herewith by the Registrant with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.