CYPRUS AMAX MINERALS CO
8-A12B/A, 1997-04-08
METAL MINING
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                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                            Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  FORM 8-A/A
 
                             AMENDMENT NO. 6

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

                         Cyprus Amax Minerals Company
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                   Delaware                      36-2684040
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State of incorporation or organization)      (IRS Employer Identification No.)


9100 East Mineral Circle, Englewood, Colorado                     80112
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  (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
to be so registered                         which each class is to be registered
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Preferred Share Purchase Rights                New York Stock Exchange


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


                                     None
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                               (Title of Class)
<PAGE>
 
The undersigned registrant hereby amends Items 1 and 2 of its registration 
statement on Form 8-A (the "Registration Statement") to read in their entirety 
as set forth below:

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

        On February 23, 1989, the Board of Directors of Cyprus Amax Minerals 
Company (the "Company") declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase 
right (a "Right") for each outstanding share of common stock, without par value 
(the "Common Shares"), of the Company. The dividend was paid on March 6, 1989 
(the "Record Date") to the stockholders of record on that date. Each Right 
entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company two-thirds of one 
one-hundredth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par 
value $1.00 per share (the "Preferred Shares"), of the Company at a price of 
$93.33 (the "Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment. The description and terms 
of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement dated as of February 23, 1989,
as amended as of September 21, 1989, as of January 22, 1990, as of May 24, 1993,
as of December 14, 1995, as of March 4, 1997, and as of April 4, 1997 (the 
"Rights Agreement"), between the Company and The Bank of New York, as Rights 
Agent (the "Rights Agent"). On March 4, 1997, the Rights Agreement was amended 
to substitute The Bank of New York as successor Rights Agent.

        Until the earlier to occur of (i) 10 days following a public 
announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an 
"Acquiring Person") have acquired beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the 
outstanding shares of Common Shares or (ii) 10 business days (or such later date
as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to such time as 
any Person becomes an Acquiring Person) following the commencement of, or 
announcement of an intention to make, a tender offer or exchange offer the 
consummation of which would result in the beneficial ownership by a person or 
group of 20% or more of such outstanding Common Shares (the earlier of such 
dates being called the "Distribution Date"), the Rights will be evidenced, with 
respect to any of the Common Share certificates outstanding as of the Rights 
Record Date, by such Common Share certificate with a copy of the Summary of 
Rights attached thereto.

        The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date, the
Rights will be transferred with and only with Common Shares. Until the
Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), new
Common Share certificates issued after the Record Date, upon transfer or new
issuance of shares of Common Shares, will contain a notation incorporating the
Rights Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier
redemption or expiration of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any
certificates for Common Shares, outstanding as of the Record Date, even without
such notation or a copy of the Summary of Rights being attached thereto, will
also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common

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Shares represented by such certificate. As soon as practicable following the 
Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights ("Right 
Certificates") will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Shares as of 
the close of business on the Distribution Date and such separate Right 
Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.
        
   The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights will 
expire on February 28, 1999 (the "Final Expiration Date"), unless the Final 
Expiration Date is extended or unless the Rights are earlier redeemed by the 
Company in each case, as described below.

   The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred Shares or other 
securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to 
adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock 
dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Preferred
Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Shares of certain rights
or warranties to subscribe for or purchased Preferred Shares at a price, or 
securities convertible into Preferred Shares with a conversion price, less than 
the then current market price of the Preferred Shares or (iii) upon the 
distribution to holders of the Preferred Shares of evidences of indebtedness or 
assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends paid out of earnings or 
retained earnings or dividends payable in Preferred Shares) or of subscription 
rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).

   The number of outstanding Rights and the number of one one-hundredths of 
Preferred Share issuable upon exercise of each Right are also subject to 
adjustment in the event of a stock split of the Common Shares or a stock
dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or subdivisions,
consolidations or combinations of the Common Shares occurring, in any such case,
prior to the Distribution Date.

   Preferred Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be 
redeemable. Each Preferred Share will be entitled to a minimum preferential 
quarterly dividend payment of $1 per share but will be entitled to an aggregate 
dividend of 150 times the dividend declared per Common Share. In the event of 
liquidation, the holders of the Preferred Shares will be entitled to a minimum 
preferential liquidation payment of $100 per share but will be entitled to an 
aggregate payment of 150 times the payment made per Common Share. Each Preferred
Share will have 150 votes, voting together with the Common Shares. Finally, in 
the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which Common 
Shares are exchanged, each Preferred Share will be entitled to receive 150 times
the amount received per Common Share. These rights are protected by customary 
and antidilution provisions.

   Because of the nature of the Preferred Shares' dividend, liquidation and 
voting rights, the value of the two-thirds of one one-hundredth interest in a 
Preferred Share

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<PAGE>
 
purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the value of one 
Common Share.

   In the event that the Company is acquired in a merger or other business 
combination transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning 
power are sold, proper provision will be made so that each holder of a Right 
will thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then
current exercise price of the Right, that number of shares of common stock of 
the acquiring company which at the time of such transaction will have a market 
value of two times the exercise price of the Right; provided, however, that the 
                                                    --------  -------
foregoing shall not apply to (and no adjustments to any of the Rights shall 
result from and the Rights will not become exercisable or unredeemable as a 
result of) the execution, delivery and performance of, or the consummation of 
any of the transactions contemplated by, the Agreement and Plan of 
Reorganization and Merger, dated as of May 24, 1993, between AMAX Inc., a New 
York corporation ("Amax"), and the Company (the "Merger Agreement") or the 
Agreement and Plan of Distribution, dated as of May 24, 1993, by and between 
Amax and Alumax Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Distribution Agreement"), 
including without limitation the merger of Amax with and into the Company (the 
"Merger"). In the event that any person becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder
of a Right, other than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which 
will thereafter be void), will thereafter have the right to receive upon 
exercise that number of Common Shares having a market value of two times the 
exercise price of the Right.
 
   At any time after the acquisition by a person or group of affiliated or
associated persons of beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding
Common Shares and prior to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or
more of the outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may
exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group which have
become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one Common Share, or
two-thirds of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (or of a share of a class
or series of the Company's preferred stock having equivalent rights, preferences
and privileges), per Right (subject to adjustment).

   With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required
until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in such 
Purchase Price. No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued (other than 
fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred 
Share, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary 
receipts) and in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the 
market price of the Preferred Shares on the last trading day prior to the date 
of exercise.

   At any time prior to the acquisition by a person or group of affiliated or 
associated persons of beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding 
Common Shares,


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<PAGE>
 
the Board of Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in
part, at a price of $.0067 per Right (the "Redemption Price"). The redemption of
the Rights may be made effective at such time on such basis and with such 
conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish. 
Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights 
will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive 
the Redemption Price.

        The terms of the Rights may be amended by the Board of Directors of the 
Company without the consent of the holders of the Rights; provided, however,
                                                          --------  -------
that from and after such time as any person or group of affiliated or associated
persons becomes an Acquiring Person no such amendment may adversely affect the 
interests of the holders of the Rights.

        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.

        The Rights have certain anti-takeover effects. The Rights will cause 
substantial dilution to a person or group that acquires 20% or more of the 
Common Shares without the prior approval of the Company's Board of Directors. 
The Rights should not interfere with any merger or other business combination 
approved by the Board of Directors prior to the time that a person or group has 
acquired beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the Common Shares since the 
Rights may be redeemed by the Board of Directors at the Redemption Price until 
such time.

        In connection with the Merger, the Company increased the number of 
shares constituting the Preferred Shares from 500,000 to 1,500,000.

        A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated
March 3, 1989, as amended. A copy of Amendment No. 6 to the Rights Agreement is
attached as Exhibit 10 hereto. The foregoing description of the Rights does not
purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
Rights Agreement as amended, which is hereby incorporated herein by
reference.

ITEM 2. EXHIBITS 

        1.  Rights Agreement, dated as of February 23, 1989 and amended as of
September 21, 1989, between Cyprus Minerals Company and Chase Manhattan Bank,
N.A., as Rights Agent (previously filed as Exhibit 1 to Form 8-A, dated March 3,
1989).

        2.  Form of press release dated February 23, 1989 (previously filed as 
Exhibit 2 to Form 8-A, dated March 3, 1989).

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<PAGE>
 
        3. Amendment Agreement, dated as of September 21, 1989, between Cyprus 
Minerals Company, The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A., as Co-Rights Agent, and 
Ameritrust Company National Association, as Co-Rights Agent (previously filed a 
Exhibit 4 to Form 8, dated January 29, 1990).

        4. Amendment No. 2 to Rights Agreement, dated as of January 22, 1990, 
between Cyprus Minerals Company and Ameritrust Company National Association, as 
Rights Agent (previously filed as Exhibit 2 to Form 8, dated January 29, 1990).
        
        5. Certificate of Adjustment dated as of January 22, 1990 (previously 
filed as Exhibit 3 to Form 8, dated January 29, 1990).

        6. Amendment No. 3 to the Rights Agreement, dated as of May 24, 1993, 
between Cyprus Minerals Company and Society National Bank, as Rights Agent 
(previously filed as Exhibit 6 to Form 8-A/A, dated June 29, 1993).

        7. Certificate of Increase of Series A Junior Participating Preferred 
Stock of Cyprus Minerals Company dated June 25, 1993 (previously filed as 
Exhibit 7 to Form 8-A/A, dated June 29, 1993).

        8. Amendment No. 4 to the Rights Agreement, dated as of December 14, 
1995, between Cyprus Amax Minerals Company and Society National Bank, as Rights 
Agent (previously filed as Exhibit 8 to Form 8-A/A, dated December 20, 1995).
 
        9. Amendment No. 5 to the Rights Agreement, dated as of March 4, 1997, 
among Cyprus Amax Minerals Company, KeyBank, N.A. (formerly known as Society 
National Bank), and The Bank of New York, as successor Rights Agent (previously 
filed as Exhibit 9 to Form 8-A/A, dated March 6, 1997). 
 
        10. Amendment No. 6 to the Rights Agreement, dated as of April 4, 1997,
between Cyprus Amax Minerals Company and The Bank of New York, as Rights 
Agent. 



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<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURE

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

                                

                                        CYPRUS AMAX MINERALS COMPANY

Date: April 8, 1997


                                        By:   /s/ Philip C. Wolf
                                              ----------------------------
                                        Name:     Philip C. Wolf
                                        Title:    Senior Vice President,
                                                  General Counsel and Secretary



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<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBIT LIST
<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                                 Page No.
                                                                                 --------
<C>     <S>                                                                     <C> 
1.      Rights Agreement, dated as of February 23, 1989 and amended 
        as of September 21, 1989, between Cyprus Minerals Company and 
        Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A., as Rights Agent (previously filed 
        as Exhibit 1 to Form 8-A, dated March 3, 1989).

2.      Form of press release dated February 23, 1989 (previously filed as
        Exhibit 2 to Form 8-A, dated March 3, 1989).

3.      Amendment Agreement, dated as of September 21, 1989, between Cyprus
        Minerals Company, The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A., as Co-Rights Agent,
        and Ameritrust Company National Association, as Co-Rights Agent 
        (previously filed as Exhibit 4 to Form 8, dated January 29, 1990).

4.      Amendment No. 2 to Rights Agreement, dated as of January 22, 1990,
        between Cyprus Minerals Company and Ameritrust Company National 
        Association, as Rights Agent (previously filed as Exhibit 2 to Form 8,
        dated January 29, 1990).

5.      Certificate of Adjustment dated as of January 22, 1990 (previously
        filed as Exhibit 3 to Form 8, dated January 29, 1990). 

6.      Amendment No.3 to the Rights Agreement, dated as of May 24, 1993 between
        Cyprus Minerals Company and Society National Bank, as Rights Agent
        (previously filed as Exhibit 6 to Form 8-A/A, dated as of June 29, 
        1993).

7.      Certificate of Increase of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
        of Cyprus Minerals Company dated June 25, 1993 (previously filed as
        Exhibit 7 to Form 8-A/A, dated June 29, 1993).

8.      Amendment No.4 to the Rights Agreement, dated as of December 14, 1995, 
        between Cyprus Amax Minerals Company and Society National Bank, as Rights
        Agent (previously filed as Exhibit 8 to Form 8-A/A, dated December 20,
        1995).

9.      Amendment No.5 to the Rights Agreement, dated as of March 4, 1997, among
        Cyprus Amax Minerals Company, KeyBank, N.A. (formerly known as Society 
        National Bank), and The Bank of New York, as successor Rights Agent
        (previously filed as Exhibit 9 to Form 8-A/A, dated March 6, 1997).

10.     Amendment No.6 to the Rights Agreement, dated as of April 4, 1997, 
        between Cyprus Amax Minerals Company and The Bank of New York, as Rights
        Agent.

</TABLE> 

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<PAGE>

                      AMENDMENT NO. 6 TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT
                      -----------------------------------


     AMENDMENT, dated as of April 4, 1997, to the Rights Agreement between
Cyprus Amax Minerals Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and The
Bank of New York (the "Rights Agent"), dated as of February 23, 1989, and
amended as of September 21, 1989, as of January 22, 1990, as of May 24, 1993, as
of December 14, 1995, and as of March 4, 1997 (the "Rights Agreement").

     Pursuant to Section 27 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 said Section 27 including, but not limited to,
by raising the thresholds set forth in Sections 1(a) and 3(a) thereof to not
less than 20%, subject to the terms and conditions thereof.  All acts and things
necessary to make this Amendment a valid agreement, enforceable according to its
terms have been done and performed, 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.

     In consideration of the foregoing and the mutual agreements set forth
herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

     1.  Section 1(a) of the Rights Agreement is hereby modified and amended to
read in its entirety as follows:

     (a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (as such term is hereinafter
defined) who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates (as such
terms are hereinafter defined) of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner (as
such term is hereinafter defined) of 20% or more of the Common shares of the
Company then outstanding, but shall not include the Company, any Subsidiary (as
such term is hereinafter defined) of the Company, any employee benefit plan of
the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, or any entity holding Common
Shares or other securities for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan;
provided, however that if any Person (other 
- --------  -------                                                              

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<PAGE>
 
than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of
the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, or any entity holding Common
Shares or other securities for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan)
beneficially owns in excess of 20% of the Common Shares of the Company on April
4, 1997, any such Person shall not become an Acquiring Person and no
Distribution Date shall occur as a result of any such Person's beneficial
ownership of Common Shares, unless, in any such case, any such Person shall
thereafter become the beneficial owner of any additional Common Shares of the
Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person shall become an "Acquiring
Person" as the result of an acquisition of Common Shares by the Company which,
by reducing the number of shares outstanding, increases the proportionate number
of shares beneficially owned by such Person to 20% or more of the Common Shares
of the Company then outstanding; provided, however, that if a Person shall
                                 --------  -------
become the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Shares of the Company
then outstanding by reason of share purchases by the Company and shall, after
such share purchases by the Company, become the Beneficial Owner of any
additional Common Shares of the Company, then such Person shall be deemed to be
an "Acquiring Person". Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Board of Directors
of the Company determines in good faith that a Person who would otherwise be an
Acquiring Person, as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this
paragraph (a), has become such inadvertently, and such Person divests as
promptly as practicable a sufficient number of Common Shares so that such Person
would no longer be an Acquiring Person, as defined pursuant to the foregoing
provisions of this paragraph (a), then such Person shall not be deemed to be an
"Acquiring Person" for any purposes of this Agreement.

     2.  Clause (ii) of Section 3(a) of the Rights Agreement is hereby amended
by substituting the percentage "20%" for "10%" therein.

     3.  This Amendment to the Rights Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware and for all
purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of such
State applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely within such
State.

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
     4.  This Amendment to the Rights Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall
together constitute one and the same instrument.  Terms not defined herein
shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meanings assigned to such
terms in the Rights Agreement, as previously amended.

     5.  In all respects not inconsistent with the terms and provisions of this
Amendment to the Rights Agreement, the Rights Agreement is hereby ratified,
adopted, approved and confirmed.  In executing and delivering this Amendment,
the Rights Agent shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities afforded to
the Rights Agent under the terms and conditions of the Rights Agreement.

     6.  If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Amendment to
the Rights Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other
authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms,
provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Amendment to the Rights
Agreement, and of the Rights Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect
and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.

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

Attest:                                CYPRUS AMAX MINERALS COMPANY        
                                                                           
                                                                           
By:  /s/ Dale E. Huffman               By:  /s/ Philip C. Wolf             
     -------------------                    ------------------             
     Name:     Dale E. Huffman              Name:     Philip C. Wolf       
     Title:    Assistant Secretary          Title:    Senior Vice President
                                                                           
                                                                           
Attest:                                THE BANK OF NEW YORK                
                                                                           
                                                                           
By:  /s/ James Dimino                  By:  /s/ Kevin Brennan              
     -------------------                    ------------------
     Name:     James Dimino                 Name:     Kevin Brennan        
     Title:    Assistant Vice President     Title:    Vice President        
     

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