LENNOX INTERNATIONAL INC
8-A12B, 2000-07-28
AIR-COND & WARM AIR HEATG EQUIP & COMM & INDL REFRIG EQUIP
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<PAGE>   1
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-A

                FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


                            LENNOX INTERNATIONAL INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


              DELAWARE                                     42-0991521
(State of incorporation or organization)             (I.R.S. Employer I.D. No.)

        2140 LAKE PARK BLVD.
          RICHARDSON, TEXAS                                  75080
(Address of principal executive offices)                   (Zip Code)


        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
      -------------------                      ------------------------------

RIGHTS TO PURCHASE PREFERRED STOCK               NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE


          If this Form relates to the registration of a class of securities
pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to
General Instruction A.(c), check the following box. [X]

          If this Form relates to the registration of a class of securities
pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to
General Instruction A.(d), check the following box. [ ]

          Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form
relates: not applicable.

          Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

                                      NONE
                                (Title of Class)


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ITEM 1. DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT'S SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED.

         On July 27, 2000, the Board of Directors of Lennox International Inc.
(the "Company") declared a dividend of one right ("Right") for each outstanding
share of the Company's Common Stock, par value $.01 per share ("Common Stock"),
to stockholders of record at the close of business on August 7, 2000. Each Right
entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company a unit consisting of
one one-hundredth of a share (a "Fractional Share") of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock"),
at a purchase price of $75.00 per Fractional Share, subject to adjustment (the
"Purchase Price"). The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a
Rights Agreement dated as of July 27, 2000 as it may from time to time be
supplemented or amended (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., a New Jersey limited liability
company, as Rights Agent.

         Initially, the Rights will be attached to all certificates representing
outstanding shares of Common Stock, and no separate certificates for the Rights
("Rights Certificates") will be distributed. The Rights will separate from the
Common Stock and a "Distribution Date" will occur, with certain exceptions, upon
the earlier of (i) ten days following a public announcement that a Person (as
defined in the Rights Agreement) or group of affiliated or associated Persons
(an "Acquiring Person") has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire,
beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
(the date of the announcement being the "Stock Acquisition Date"), or (ii) ten
business days following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer
that would result in a Person's becoming an Acquiring Person. Lineal descendants
of D.W. Norris (and their spouses) and trusts established primarily for the
benefit of such lineal descendants (and their spouses) will not become an
Acquiring Person and will not be counted as affiliates or associates of any
other Person in determining whether such Person is an Acquiring Person, in each
case as long as the primary purpose for holding shares in the Company is not to
effect an extraordinary corporate transaction. In addition, the holders of 1% or
more of the Company's Common Stock which are identified in the prospectus
relating to its initial public offering are also excluded from becoming an
Acquiring Person. In certain circumstances, the Distribution Date may be
deferred by the Board of Directors of the Company. Certain inadvertent
acquisitions will not result in a Person's becoming an Acquiring Person if the
Person promptly divests itself of sufficient Common Stock. Until the
Distribution Date, (a) the Rights will be evidenced by the Common Stock
certificates (together with a copy of this Summary of Rights or bearing the
notation referred to below) and will be transferred with and only with such
Common Stock certificates, (b) new Common Stock certificates issued after August
7, 2000 will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference
and (c) the surrender for transfer of any certificate for Common Stock (with or
without a copy of this Summary of Rights) will also constitute the transfer of
the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificate.

         The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will
expire at the close of business on July 27, 2010, unless earlier redeemed or
exchanged by the Company as described below.

         As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights Certificates
will be mailed to holders of record of Common Stock as of the close of business
on the Distribution Date and, from and after the Distribution Date, the separate
Rights Certificates alone will represent the Rights. All

                                     Page 2

<PAGE>   3

shares of Common Stock issued prior to the Distribution Date will be issued with
Rights. Shares of Common Stock issued after the Distribution Date in connection
with certain employee benefit plans or upon conversion of certain securities
will be issued with Rights. Except as otherwise determined by the Board of
Directors of the Company, no other shares of Common Stock issued after the
Distribution Date will be issued with Rights.

         In the event (a "Flip-In Event") that a Person becomes an Acquiring
Person (except pursuant to a tender or exchange offer for all outstanding shares
of Common Stock at a price and on terms that a majority of the independent
directors of the Company determines to be fair to and otherwise in the best
interests of the Company and its stockholders (a "Permitted Offer")), each
holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise of
such Right, a number of shares of Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances,
cash, property or other securities of the Company) having a Current Market Price
(as defined in the Rights Agreement) equal to two times the exercise price of
the Right. Notwithstanding the foregoing, following the occurrence of any
Triggering Event, all Rights that are, or (under certain circumstances specified
in the Rights Agreement) were, beneficially owned by or transferred to an
Acquiring Person (or by certain related parties) will be null and void in the
circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement. However, Rights are not
exercisable following the occurrence of any Flip-In Event until such time as the
Rights are no longer redeemable by the Company as set forth below.

         In the event (a "Flip-Over Event") that, at any time from and after the
time an Acquiring Person becomes such, (i) the Company is acquired in a merger
or other business combination transaction (other than certain mergers that
follow a Permitted Offer), or (ii) 50% or more of the Company's assets, cash
flow or earning power is sold or transferred, each holder of a Right (except
Rights that are null and void as set forth above) shall thereafter have the
right to receive, upon exercise, a number of shares of common stock of the
acquiring company having a Current Market Price equal to two times the exercise
price of the Right. Flip-In Events and Flip-Over Events are collectively
referred to as "Triggering Events."

         The number of outstanding Rights associated with a share of Common
Stock, or the number of Fractional Shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon
exercise of a Right and the Purchase Price, are subject to adjustment in the
event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification
of, the Common Stock occurring prior to the Distribution Date. The Purchase
Price payable, and the number of Fractional Shares of Preferred Stock or other
securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to
adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution in the event of certain
transactions affecting the Preferred Stock.

         With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the Purchase
Price. No fractional shares of Preferred Stock that are not integral multiples
of a Fractional Share are required to be issued upon exercise of Rights and, in
lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash may be made based on the market price of the
Preferred Stock on the last trading date prior to the date of exercise. Pursuant
to the Rights Agreement, the Company reserves the right to require prior to the
occurrence of a Triggering Event that, upon any exercise of Rights, a number of
Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred Stock will be issued.

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<PAGE>   4

         At any time until ten days following the first date of public
announcement of the occurrence of a Flip-In Event, the Company may redeem the
Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.01 per Right, payable, at the
option of the Company, in cash, shares of Common Stock or such other
consideration as the Board of Directors of the Company may determine.
Immediately upon the effectiveness of the action of the Board of Directors of
the Company ordering redemption of the Rights, the Rights will terminate and the
only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the $.01 redemption
price.

         At any time after the occurrence of a Flip-In Event and prior to a
Person's becoming the beneficial owner of 50% or more of the shares of Common
Stock then outstanding or the occurrence of a Flip-Over Event, the Company may
exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by an Acquiring Person or an
affiliate or an associate of an Acquiring Person, which will have become null
and void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of Common
Stock, and/or other equity securities deemed to have the same value as one share
of Common Stock, per Right, subject to adjustment.

         Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights should not
be taxable to stockholders or to the Company, stockholders may, depending upon
the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become
exercisable for Common Stock (or other consideration) of the Company or for the
common stock of the acquiring company as set forth above or are exchanged as
provided in the preceding paragraph.

         Other than the redemption price, any of the provisions of the Rights
Agreement may be amended by the Board of Directors of the Company as long as the
Rights are redeemable. Thereafter, the provisions of the Rights Agreement other
than the redemption price may be amended by the Board of Directors of the
Company in order to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to make changes
that do not materially adversely affect the interests of holders of Rights
(excluding the interests of any Acquiring Person), or to shorten or lengthen any
time period under the Rights Agreement; provided, however, that no amendment to
lengthen the time period governing redemption shall be made at such time as the
Rights are not redeemable.

         A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an exhibit to this Registration Statement on Form 8-A.
This summary description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is
incorporated herein by reference.

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<PAGE>   5




ITEM 2. EXHIBITS.

1.   Rights Agreement dated as of July 27, 2000 between Lennox International
     Inc. and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent, which
     includes as Exhibit A the form of Certificate of Designations of Series A
     Junior Participating Preferred Stock setting forth the terms of the
     Preferred Stock, as Exhibit B the form of Rights Certificate and as Exhibit
     C the Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Stock (Incorporated by
     reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated
     July 27, 2000 (File No. 001-15149.)) Pursuant to the Rights Agreement,
     Rights Certificates will not be mailed until after the Distribution Date
     (as defined in the Rights Agreement).










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                                    SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.


                                              LENNOX INTERNATIONAL INC.




Date:  July 27, 2000                          By: /s/ CARL E. EDWARDS JR.
                                                  ------------------------------
                                              Name: Carl E. Edwards Jr.
                                              Title: Executive Vice President








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