FIRST TENNESSEE NATIONAL CORP
8-A12B, 1999-07-26
NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS
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      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 26, 1999


                       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


                      First Tennessee National Corporation
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

                Tennessee                                  62-0803242
- ----------------------------------------       ---------------------------------
(State of Incorporation or Organization)       (IRS Employer Identification No.)

         165 Madison Avenue
         Memphis,  Tennessee                                             38103
- ----------------------------------------                              ----------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                              (Zip Code)


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

Common Stock, par value $0.625                    New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
Shareholder Protection Rights                     New York Stock Exchange, Inc.


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

                                 Not Applicable
                                ----------------
                                (Title of Class)


<PAGE>



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

         Common Stock. The authorized capital stock of First Tennessee National
Corporation (the "Company") currently consist of 400,000,000 shares of Common
Stock, $0.625 par value (the "Common Stock") and 5,000,000 shares of preferred
stock, without par value (the "Preferred Stock").

         As of July 14, 1999, there were 131,010,475 shares of Common Stock
outstanding. There are currently no shares of Preferred Stock outstanding. The
Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") is authorized, without further
action by the shareholders, to provide for the issuance of up to 5,000,000
shares of Preferred Stock, from time to time in one or more series and, with
respect to each such series, has the authority to fix the powers (including
voting power), designations, preferences and relative, participating,
participating, optional or other special rights and the qualifications,
limitations or restrictions thereof.

         As of July 14, 1999, approximately 26 million shares of Common Stock
were reserved for issuance under various employee stock plans and the Company's
dividend reinvestment plan. Although shares have been reserved for issuance
under the employee stock plans, the plans generally permit the Company to
repurchase shares on the open market or privately for issuance under such plans.
The Board has authorized management to repurchase shares from time to time for
the plans. A total of 1.9 million shares were repurchased and 2.1 million shares
were issued for the plans in 1998. Pursuant to Board authority, the Company
plans to continue to purchase shares from time to time for the plans and will
evaluate the level of capital and take action designed to generate or use
capital as appropriate for the interest of the shareholders. Also, the Company
has on file with the SEC an effective shelf registration pursuant to which it
may offer from time to time, at its discretion, senior or subordinated debt
securities, preferred stock, including depository shares, and Common Stock at an
aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $225 million (net of prior
issuances) and another effective shelf registration pursuant to which up to $200
million of capital securities (guaranteed preferred beneficial interests in the
Company's subordinated debentures) is available for issuance.

         The holders of the Common Stock are entitled to receive, ratably, such
dividends as may be declared by the Board from funds legally available therefor,
provided that if any shares of Preferred Stock of the Company are at the time
outstanding, the payment of dividends on Common Stock or other distributions
(including purchases of Common Stock) may be subject to the declaration and
payment of full cumulative dividends, and the absence of arrearages in any
mandatory sinking fund, on outstanding shares of preferred stock. The holders of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each such
share on all matters presented to shareholders and are



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<PAGE>



not entitled to cumulate votes for the election of directors. Upon any
dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company resulting in a
distribution of assets to the shareholders, the holders of Common Stock are
entitled to receive such assets ratably according to their respective holdings
after payment of all liabilities and obligations and satisfaction of the
liquidation preferences of any shares of preferred stock at the time
outstanding. The shares of Common Stock have no preemptive, redemption,
subscription or conversion rights. Under the Company's Charter, the Board is
authorized to issue authorized shares of Common Stock without further action by
the shareholders. However, the Common Stock will be traded on the New York Stock
Exchange, which requires shareholder approval of the issuance of additional
shares of common stock in certain circumstances. The Transfer Agent for the
Common Stock is Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association.

         The Board is divided into three classes, which results in approximately
1/3 of the directors being elected each year. In addition, the Charter and the
Bylaws, among other things, generally give to the Board the authority to fix the
number of directors on the Board and to remove directors from and fill vacancies
on the Board, other than removal for cause and the filling of vacancies created
thereby which are reserved to shareholders exercising at least a majority of the
voting power of all outstanding voting stock of the Company. To change these
provisions of the Bylaws, other than by action of the Board, and to amend these
provisions of the Charter or to adopt any provision of the Charter inconsistent
with such Bylaws provisions, would require approval by the holders of at least
80% of the voting power of all outstanding voting stock. Such classification of
the Board and such other provisions of the Charter and the Bylaws may have a
significant effect on the ability of the shareholders of the Company to change
the composition of an incumbent Board or to benefit from certain transactions
which are opposed by the Board.

         The Company's Charter and its Bylaws are incorporated herein by
reference.

         Shareholder Protection Rights. On September 7, 1989, the Board declared
a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (the "Rights") for each share
of Common Stock held of record at the close of business on September 18, 1989,
or issued thereafter and prior to the Separation Time (as defined in the
Shareholder Protection Rights Agreement described below). The Rights were issued
pursuant to a Shareholder Protection Rights Agreement, dated as of September 7,
1989, between the Company and First Tennessee Bank National Association, as
Rights Agent (the "Original Rights Agreement"). On January 21, 1997, the Company
amended and restated the Original Rights Agreement in its entirety (the "Amended
and Restated Rights Agreement").

         The description of the Rights contained in the Company's registration
statement on Form 8-A/A, dated January 21, 1997, is incorporated herein by
reference.



                                       -3-

<PAGE>




         The Amended and Restated Rights Agreement (which includes as Exhibit A
the forms of Rights Certificate and Election to Exercise and as Exhibit B the
terms of the Preferred Stock) is incorporated herein by reference. The
description of the Rights incorporated by reference to the Company's
registration statement on Form 8-A/A, dated January 21, 1997, is qualified in
its entirety by reference to the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement and such
exhibits thereto.

         In addition, on October 20, 1998, the Board declared a dividend payable
November 12, 1998 of one right (the "1998 Rights" and together with the Rights,
the "Shareholder Protection Rights") for each outstanding share of Common Stock
held of record at the close of business on November 2, 1998, or issued
thereafter and prior to the Separation Time (as hereinafter defined) and
thereafter pursuant to options and convertible securities outstanding at the
Separation Time. The 1998 Rights were issued pursuant to a Shareholder
Protection Rights Agreement, dated as of October 20, 1998, between the Company
and First Tennessee Bank National Association, as Rights Agent (the "1998 Rights
Agreement"). The 1998 Rights Agreement is substantially identical to the Amended
and Restated Rights Agreement and will not become operative until the expiration
on September 18, 1999 (or upon an earlier redemption) of the existing Rights.

         The description of the 1998 Rights contained in the Company's
registration statement on Form 8-A, dated October 21, 1998, is incorporated
herein by reference.

         The 1998 Rights Agreement (which includes as Exhibit A the forms of
Rights Certificate and Election to Exercise and as Exhibit B the form of
Articles of Amendment designating Preferred Stock) is incorporated herein by
reference. The description of the Rights incorporated by reference to the
Company's registration statement on Form 8-A, dated October 21, 1998, is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the 1998 Rights Agreement and such
exhibits thereto.



                                       -4-

<PAGE>



ITEM 2.  EXHIBITS.


         (a)  The following exhibits are filed as part of this registration
              statement:

         Exhibit No.         Description

         (1)                 Restated Charter of the Company, as amended
                             (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(i) to the
                             Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
                             year ended December 31, 1997);

         (2)                 Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference to
                             Exhibit 3(b) to the Company's Quarterly Report on
                             Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999);

         (3)                 Amended and Restated Shareholder Protection Rights
                             Agreement, dated as of January 21, 1997 (the
                             "Amended and Restated Rights Agreement")
                             (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 to the
                             Company's registration statement on Form 8-A/A,
                             dated January 21, 1997);

         (4)                 Form of Rights Certificate and of Election to
                             Exercise, included as Exhibit A to the Amended and
                             Restated Rights Agreement (Exhibit 3 hereto);

         (5)                 Form of Articles of Amendment Establishing Series
                             of Shares of Participating Preferred Stock,
                             included as Exhibit B to the Amended and Restated
                             Rights Agreement (Exhibit 3 hereto);

         (6)                 Shareholder Protection Rights Agreement, dated as
                             of October 20, 1998 (the "1998 Rights Agreement")
                             (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 to the
                             Company's registration statement on Form 8-A, dated
                             October 21, 1998);

         (7)                 Form of Rights Certificate and of Election to
                             Exercise, included in Exhibit A to the 1998 Rights
                             Agreement (Exhibit 6 hereto); and



                                       -5-

<PAGE>




         (9)                 Form of Articles of Amendment Establishing Series
                             of Shares of Participating Preferred Stock,
                             included in Exhibit B to the 1998 Rights Agreement
                             (Exhibit 7 hereto).


         (b)  The following exhibits are being filed with the New York Stock
              Exchange:

              (1)   Restated Charter of the Company, as amended;

              (2)   Bylaws of the Company;

              (3)   Registration statement on Form 8-A/A, dated January
                    21, 1997; and

              (4)   Registration Statement on Form 8-A, dated October 21,
                    1998.








                                       -6-

<PAGE>


                                    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.


                                            FIRST TENNESSEE NATIONAL CORPORATION


Date:  July 26, 1999                        By   /s/  Elbert L. Thomas, Jr.
                                              ----------------------------------
                                            Name:   Elbert L. Thomas, Jr.
                                            Title:  Executive Vice President and
                                                    Chief Financial Officer








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