ARROW ELECTRONICS INC
8-A12B/A, 1998-03-02
ELECTRONIC PARTS & EQUIPMENT, NEC
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<PAGE>   1
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM 8-A/A

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

                             ARROW ELECTRONICS, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

        NEW YORK                                                 11-1806155
(State of incorporation                                      (I.R.S. Employer
    or organization)                                         Identification No.)

                                  25 Hub Drive
                            Melville, New York 11747
          (Address, including zip code, of principal executive offices)

        SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:

   Title of each class                            Name of each exchange on which
    to be registered                              each class is to be registered

Preferred Share Purchase                              New York Stock Exchange
         Rights

If this Form relates to the registration of a class of debt securities and is
effective upon filing pursuant to General Instruction A,(c)(1), please check the
following box. [ ]

If this Form relates to the registration of a class of debt securities and is to
become effective simultaneously with the effectiveness of a concurrent
registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to General
instruction A(c)(2), please check the following box. [ ]

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

                                      None
                                (Title of class)
<PAGE>   2
Item 1.        Description of Securities to be Registered.

At a meeting of the Arrow Electronics, Inc. (the "Company") Board of Directors
of February 19, 1998, the Board authorized the amendment of the Rights Agreement
dated as of March 2, 1988, between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as
Rights Agent. This amendment, which took effect as of February 25, 1998 extends
the expiration date of the Rights from March 1, 1998 to March 1, 2008, unless
earlier redeemed by the Company.

The amendment to the Rights Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 7, which is
incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the amendment
does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
that Exhibit.

Item 2.       Exhibits

                  Item 2 is amended by adding thereto the following:

                  7. Fifth Amendment dated as of February 25, 1998, to the
                  Rights Agreement dated as of March 2, 1988, between the
                  Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Rights Agent.
<PAGE>   3
                                    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, thereunto duly authorized.

                                             ARROW ELECTRONICS, INC.

                                             BY: /s/ ROBERT E. KLATELL
                                             -------------------------   
Date: March 2, 1998                          Name:   Robert E. Klatell
                                             Title   Executive Vice President
<PAGE>   4
                                INDEX OF EXHIBITS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit Number                          Title   

<S>                       <C>                              
                          Fifth Amendment dated as of    
                          February 25, 1998, to the Rights
                          Agreement dated as of March
                          2, 1988, between the
                          Company and The Chase
                          Manhattan Bank, as Rights
                          Agent.
</TABLE>


<PAGE>   1
                                                                       Exhibit 7

                                 FIFTH AMENDMENT

               FIFTH AMENDMENT (this "Amendment"), dated as of February 25,
1998, to the Rights Agreement, dated as of March 2, 1988, as amended by the
First Amendment (the "First Amendment"), dated as of June 30, 1989, the Second
Amendment (the "Second Amendment"), dated as of June 8, 1991, the Third
Amendment (the "Third Amendment"), dated as of July 19, 1991 and the Fourth
Amendment (the "Fourth Amendment") dated as of August 26, 1991 (as so amended,
the "Rights Agreement"), between Arrow Electronics, Inc., a New York corporation
(the "Company") and The Chase Manhattan Bank, a New York corporation, as Rights
Agent (the "Rights Agent" which terms shall include any successor Rights Agent
under the Rights Agreement).

                                   WITNESSETH:

            WHEREAS, the Company and the Rights Agent have heretofore entered
into the Rights Agreement, the First Amendment, the Second Amendment, the Third
Amendment and the Fourth Amendment; and

            WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 5.5 of the Rights Agreement, the
Company and the Rights Agent may from time to time supplement or amend the
Rights Agreement in accordance with the provisions of such Section 5.5; and

            WHEREAS, all actions necessary to make this Amendment a valid
agreement, enforceable in accordance with its terms, have been taken, and the
execution and delivery of this Amendment by the Company and the Rights Agent
have been in all respects duly authorized by the Company and the Rights Agent.
<PAGE>   2
           NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
agreements set forth herein, the Company and the Rights Agent agree as follows:

      1.   Article I, Subsection 1. 1(h) is amended to read in its entirety as
           follows:

           (h) "Expiration Date" shall mean the earlier of (i) March 1, 2008 and
           (ii) the Redemption Date.

      2.   Except as herein above expressly provided, all provisions of the
           Rights Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be
duly executed as of the date above first written.

ARROW ELECTRONICS, INC.

By:___________________________
   Name: Robert E. Klatell
   Title:  Executive Vice President

THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK

By:___________________________
   Name:   Eric R. Leason
   Title:  Vice President,
           The Chase Manhattan Bank


                                       2
<PAGE>   3
                                                  Exhibit 1 to Fifth Amendment



                             ARROW ELECTRONICS, INC.

                      PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE RIGHTS PLAN

                          The following summary is not
                        complete and is qualified in its
                        entirety by the Rights Agreement,
                         a copy of which can be obtained
                             from the Rights Agent,
                The Chase Manhattan Bank, or from the Company

                                Summary of Terms

Dividend:                        The Board of Directors of the Company has
                                 declared a dividend of one preferred stock
                                 purchase Right for each outstanding share of
                                 Common Stock, payable on March 14, 1988 to
                                 shareholders of record on March 14, 1988. The
                                 rights will not be exercisable or separable
                                 from the Common Stock prior to the initial
                                 exercise date (discussed below) and until such
                                 time certificates for shares of Common Stock
                                 will also represent a similar number of Rights.

Initial Exercise Date            Rights initially become exercisable on the
of the Rights:                   tenth day after the earlier of: (a) the date of
                                 public announcement that any person (a broadly
                                 defined term) has acquired beneficial ownership
                                 (a broadly defined term) of 20% (the
                                 "Percentage") or more of the Company's Common
                                 Stock (any such person being called an
                                 "Acquiring Person," a definition which does not
                                 include (x) the Company, (y) any wholly-owned
                                 subsidiary of the Company, and (z) Lex Service
                                 plc and certain of its subsidiaries
                                 (collectively, the "Grandfathered Stockholder")
                                 with respect to the shares of Common Stock
                                 acquired or to be acquired by the Grandfathered
                                 Stockholder pursuant to a certain purchase and
                                 sale agreement or a certain stockholders'
                                 agreement (each as more fully described in the
                                 Fourth
<PAGE>   4
                                 Amendment to the Rights Agreement dated as of
                                 August 26, 1991), until the Grandfathered
                                 Stockholder reduces its beneficial ownership of
                                 such Common Stock of the Company to an amount
                                 which is less than the Percentage of the
                                 outstanding shares of Common Stock of the
                                 Company; and (b) the date a person commences or
                                 makes a public announcement of an intent to
                                 commence a tender or exchange offer which would
                                 result in the beneficial ownership of 30% or
                                 more of the Company's Common Stock (even if no
                                 purchases actually occur). Upon the occurrence
                                 of the initial exercise date, the Company will
                                 mail certificates evidencing the Rights,
                                 together with an information statement
                                 containing instructions regarding exercise of
                                 the Rights and other appropriate information,
                                 to the Company's shareholders.

Preferred Stock                  Each Right entitles the holder after the 
Purchasable:                     initial exercise date to purchase, for $50, 
                                 1/100th of a share of a new issue of preferred
                                 stock of the Company. The preferred stock will
                                 have a liquidation value of the $5000 per share
                                 and will bear dividends equal to the dividends
                                 on 100 share of Common Stock.

"Flip-in" Trigger:               If any person becomes an Acquiring Person,
                                 then:

                                 (i)   Rights owned by the person acquiring
                                       such stock or transferees thereof will
                                       automatically be void; and

                                 (ii)  each other Right will automatically
                                       become a right to buy, for the Exercise
                                       Price, that number of shares of Common
                                       Stock having a market value of twice the
                                       Exercise Price.

"Flip-over" Trigger:             In the event, directly or indirectly:

                                 (a)   the Company effects a consolidation or
                                       merger with any other person (other
                                       than a wholly owned subsidiary of the
                                       Company) in which all or part of the
                                       Company's Common Stock is changed in
                                       any way or converted into or exchanged
                                       for stock, other securities or other
                                       property;


                                       2
<PAGE>   5
                                 (b)   the Company or a subsidiary sells or
                                       otherwise transfers, in one or more
                                       transactions, assets (i) aggregating
                                       more than 50% of the assets (measured
                                       by book value or fair market value) or
                                       (ii) generating more than 50% of the
                                       operating income or cash flow, of the
                                       Company and its subsidiaries (taken as
                                       a whole) to any other person (other
                                       than the Company or any of its
                                       wholly-owned subsidiaries) or to two
                                       or more such person which are
                                       affiliated;

                                 (c)   a person beneficially owning 20% or more
                                       of the Company's Common Stock, or any
                                       affiliate or associate of such a person
                                       (other than the Company or any of its
                                       wholly-owned subsidiaries), consolidates
                                       with or merges with the Company;

                                 (d)   the Company or a subsidiary enters
                                       into any transaction, or series of
                                       transactions occurring within 12
                                       calendar months, with a person, or an
                                       affiliate or associate of a person
                                       (other than the Company or any of its
                                       wholly-owned subsidiaries),
                                       beneficially owning 20% or more of the
                                       Company's Common Stock, involving (i)
                                       the acquisition by such person or
                                       affiliate or associate of capital
                                       stock of the Company or a subsidiary
                                       (other than as part of a pro rata
                                       distribution to stockholders), (ii)
                                       the acquisition or disposition of
                                       assets worth more than $15,000,000
                                       other than in the ordinary course of
                                       business or the acquisition or
                                       disposition of assets on terms less
                                       favorable than obtainable through
                                       arm's-length negotiations or (iii)
                                       certain other specified matters;

                                 (e)   at any time when there is a person
                                       beneficially owning 50% or more of the
                                       Company's Common Stock, the Company fails
                                       to pay or reduces a dividend (except in
                                       certain specified cases); or

                                 (f)   certain other specified events occur;
                                       then each Rights holder will have the
                                       right to purchase, for the $50 Exercise 
                                       Price, a number of shares of common stock
                                       of the person engaging in the


                                       3
<PAGE>   6
                                       transaction or the person beneficially
                                       owning 20% or more or 50% or more of the
                                       Company's Common Stock, as the case may
                                       be, having a then current market value of
                                       twice the Exercise Price.

Transferability of the           Until the initial exercise date, Rights are
Rights:                          transferable only with the transfer of Common
                                 Stock. After the initial exercise date, Rights
                                 will be separately transferable, but only on
                                 the registry books of the Rights Agent.

Redemption of the                Rights are redeemable at the Company's option
Rights:                          for $0.01 per Right, payable either in cash or
                                 Common Stock of the Company at the Company's
                                 option. Except as set forth below, the Rights
                                 will not be redeemable at any time following
                                 the tenth day after the public announcement
                                 that any person has become an Acquiring Person.
                                 Although the Company's right of redemption
                                 terminates 10 days after a person becomes an
                                 Acquiring Person, the right of redemption is
                                 revived if that person sells enough shares to
                                 reduce its ownership below 10% and no other 20%
                                 shareholder exists. In addition, the Rights may
                                 be redeemed at any time in connection with a
                                 merger or sale of all or substantially all of
                                 the assets of the Company that involves a
                                 Person other than an Acquiring Person and has
                                 been approved by holders of a majority of the
                                 outstanding Common Stock not owned by an
                                 Acquiring Person.

Expiration of the                The Rights will expire on March 1, 2008.
Rights:

Amendment of Terms of            The terms of the Rights may be amended without
Rights:                          consent of the holders, provided the amendment
                                 does not adversely affect the interests of
                                 those holders.

Voting Rights:                   Rights will not have any voting rights.

Antidilution                     Rights have the benefit of certain customary
Provisions:                      antidilution provisions.

Taxes:                           The present distribution of the Rights
                                 should not be taxable for federal income tax
                                 purposes to either the Company or shareholders.
                                 Shareholders may, depending upon their
                                 individual circumstances,


                                       4
<PAGE>   7
                                 recognize taxable income when the Rights become
                                 exercisable. Shareholders should consult with
                                 their own tax advisors regarding the
                                 consequences of holding and exercising Rights.


                                       5
<PAGE>   8
                                                    Exhibit 2 to Fifth Amendment

                                                                       EXHIBIT C

                          [Form of Rights Certificate]

Certificate No. W-                                                      Rights

            THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION OR MANDATORY EXCHANGE, AT THE
            OPTION OF THE COMPANY, ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS
            AGREEMENT. RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY ACQUIRING PERSONS OR
            AFFILIATES OR ASSOCIATES THEREOF (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE
            RIGHTS AGREEMENT) OR TRANSFEREES OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING WILL BE
            VOID.

                               Rights Certificate

                             ARROW ELECTRONICS, INC.

            This certifies that                    , or registered assigns, is
the registered holder of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which
entitles the registered holder thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, dated as of March 2, 1988 and amended as of
June 30, 1989, as of June 8, 1991, as of July 19, 1991, as of August 26, 1991
and as of February 25, 1998 (as such may be amended from time to time, the
"Rights Agreement"), between Arrow Electronics, Inc., a New York corporation
(the "Company"), and The Chase Manhattan Bank, a New York corporation, as Rights
Agent (the "Rights Agent", which term shall include any successor Rights Agent
under the Rights Agreement), to purchase from the Company at any time after the
Separation Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior to
the Expiration Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement), at the
office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, the number of fully paid
nonassessable shares of Participating Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share
(the "Participating Preferred Stock"), of the Company equal to one one-hundredth
of the number of Rights set forth above (subject to adjustment as provided in
the Rights Agreement), at the Exercise Price referred to below, upon
presentation and surrender of this Rights Certificate with
<PAGE>   9
                                      - 2 -


the Form of Election to Exercise duly executed. The Exercise Price shall
initially be $50 per Right and shall be subject to adjustment in certain events
as provided in the Rights Agreement.

           In certain circumstances described in the Rights Agreement, the
Rights evidenced hereby may entitle the registered holder thereof to purchase
securities of an entity other than the Company or securities or assets of the
Company other than Participating Preferred Stock, all as provided in the Rights
Agreement.

           This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions
and conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions
are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates. Copies of
the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal office of the Company and are
available upon written request from either the Company or the Rights Agent.

            This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates,
upon surrender at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose,
may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates of like
tenor and date evidencing an aggregate number of Rights equal to the aggregate
number of Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates
surrendered. If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the
registered holder shall be entitled to receive, upon surrender hereof, another
Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates for the number of whole Rights not
exercised.

            Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights
evidenced by this Certificate may be redeemed by the Company under certain
circumstances at its option at a redemption price of $.0l per Right, payable in
cash or in Common Stock of the Company at the Company's option, subject to
adjustment in certain events as provided in the Rights Agreement.


            If the Company elects not to issue fractional shares of
Participating Preferred Stock, it shall, in lieu thereof, issue depository
receipts, as provided in the Rights Agreement.
<PAGE>   10
                                      - 3 -


            No holder of this Rights Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to
vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of
Participating Preferred Stock or of any other securities which may at any time
be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any
of the rights of a shareholder of the Company or any right to vote for the
election of directors or upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting shareholders (except as
provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription
rights, or otherwise, until the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate
shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.

            This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any
purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
<PAGE>   11
                                      - 4 -


            WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the
Company and its corporate seal Dated as of [              ].
ATTEST:                                                ARROW ELECTRONICS, INC.

_________________________                              By_______________________
      Secretary

Countersigned:

THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK

By ______________________
   Authorized Signature
<PAGE>   12
                 [Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]

                               FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

            (To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires to
transfer the Rights Certificates.)

            FOR VALUE RECEIVED              hereby sells, assigns and transfers

unto ___________________________________________________________________________
                               (Please print name
________________________________________________________________________________
                           and address of transferee)

this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein,
and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint                Attorney,
to transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the within-named
Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated:                   19
Signature Guaranteed:

                                        ________________________________________
                                        Signature
                                        (Signature must correspond to name as
                                        written upon the face of this Rights
                                        Certificate in every particular, without
                                        alteration or enlargement or any change
                                        whatsoever)

            Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered
national securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or
correspondent in the United States.

________________________________________________________________________________
                            (To be completed if true)

The undersigned hereby represents, for the benefit of all holders of Rights and
shares of Common Stock, that the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are
not, and, to the knowledge of the undersigned, have never been, Beneficially
Owned by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in
the Rights Agreement).

                                                ________________________________
                                                Signature
<PAGE>   13
                                      -2-
________________________________________________________________________________

                                     NOTICE

           In the event the certification set forth above is not completed in
connection with a purported assignment, the Company will deem the Beneficial
Owner of the Rights evidenced by the enclosed Rights Certificate to be an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights
Agreement) or a transferee of any of the foregoing and accordingly will deem the
Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate to be void and not transferable or
exercisable.
<PAGE>   14
                   [To be attached to each Rights Certificate]

                          FORM OF ELECTION TO EXERCISE

                      (To be executed if holder desires to
                        exercise the Rights Certificate.)

TO:  ARROW ELECTRONICS, INC.

            The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise               
                           whole Rights represented by the attached Rights
Certificate to purchase the shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise
of such Rights and requests that certificates for such shares be issued in the
name of:

                        Address:

                        Social Security or Other Taxpayer
                        Identification Number:

If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance of such Rights shall be
registered in the name of and delivered to:

                        Address:

                        Social Security or Other Taxpayer
                        Identification Number:

Dated:                 19

Signature Guaranteed:

                                        Signature
                                        (Signature must correspond to name as
                                        written upon the face of this Rights
                                        Certificate in every particular, without
                                        alteration or enlargement or any change
                                        whatsoever)
<PAGE>   15
                                     - 2 -


            Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered
national securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or
correspondent in the United States.

________________________________________________________________________________
                            (To be completed if true)

            The undersigned hereby represents, for the benefit of all holders of
Rights and shares of Common Stock, that the Rights evidenced by the enclosed
Rights Certificate are not, and, to the knowledge of the undersigned, have never
been, Beneficially Owned by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate
thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement).

                                          ______________________________________
                                          Signature



________________________________________________________________________________

                                     NOTICE

            In the event the certification set forth above is not completed in
connection with a purported exercise, the Company will deem the Beneficial Owner
of the Rights evidenced by the enclosed Rights Certificate to be an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement)
or a transferee of any of the foregoing and accordingly will deem the Rights
evidenced by such Rights Certificate to be void and not transferable or
exercisable.


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