PINNACLE SYSTEMS INC
8-A12G/A, 1998-05-19
PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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

                                   FORM 8-A/A
                                (Amendment No. 1)


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


                             PINNACLE SYSTEMS, INC.
                 ----------------------------------------------
                    (Exact name of Registrant as specified in
                                  its charter)


             California                                   94-3003809
- --------------------------------------         ---------------------------------
     (State of incorporation or                  (IRS Employer Identification
            organization)                                     No.)


                            280 North Bernardo Avenue
                             Mountain View, CA 94043
           ---------------------------------------------------------
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)


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


                                                  Name of each exchange on which
Title of each class to be so registered           each class is to be registered
- ---------------------------------------           ------------------------------
              None                                             None


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

                         Preferred Share Purchase Rights
                 ---------------------------------------------
                                (Title of Class)

================================================================================

<PAGE>


Item 1.           Description of Securities to be Registered.

         On December 12, 1996,  pursuant to a Preferred  Shares Rights Agreement
(the "Rights  Agreement")  between  Pinnacle  Systems,  Inc. (the "Company") and
ChaseMellon   Shareholder  Services,   L.L.C.,  as  Rights  Agent  (the  "Rights
Agent"),the  Company's  Board of  Directors  declared a dividend of one right (a
"Right")  to  purchase  one  one-thousandth  share  of the  Company's  Series  A
Participating  Preferred Stock ("Series A Preferred") for each outstanding share
of Common Stock, no par value ("Common  Shares"),  of the Company.  The dividend
was payable on December 27, 1996 (the "Record Date") to  stockholders  of record
as of the close of  business on that day.  Each Right  entitles  the  registered
holder to purchase  from the Company one  one-thousandth  of a share of Series A
Preferred  at an exercise  price of $65.00 (the  "Purchase  Price"),  subject to
adjustment.

         On April 30,  1998,  the  Company  and the Rights  Agent  entered  into
Amendment  No. 1 to the Rights  Agreement,  which  altered  the  definitions  of
Affiliate and Associate,  respectively,  set forth in Section 1(b) of the Rights
Agreement  to clarify that the  acquisition  by or  beneficial  ownership of any
Person  (as  defined in the Rights  Agreement)  of less than 20% of the  "Voting
Securities" (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Exchange Act) of any  "Investment  Adviser" (as defined under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment  Advisers  Act")),  registered
under the Investment  Advisers Act, shall not,  solely by virtue of ownership of
such Voting  Securities,  cause such Person to be deemed to be an "Affiliate" or
"Associate"  of such  Investment  Adviser nor shall such  Investment  Adviser be
deemed to be an "Affiliate" or "Associate" of such Person.

         The following summary of the principal terms of the Rights Agreement is
a general  description  only and is subject to the detailed terms and conditions
of the Rights Agreement. A copy of the Rights Agreement is attached as Exhibit 1
to  this  Registration  Statement  and  is  incorporated  herein  by  reference;
capitalized  terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings
ascribed to them in the Rights Agreement.

Rights Evidenced by Common Share Certificates

         The Rights will not be exercisable until the Distribution Date (defined
below).  Certificates for the Rights ("Rights Certificates") will not be sent to
shareholders  and the Rights  will  attach to and trade only  together  with the
Common Shares. Accordingly,  Common Share certificates outstanding on the Record
Date will evidence the Rights  related  thereto,  and Common Share  certificates
issued  after the Record Date will contain a notation  incorporating  the Rights
Agreement by reference.  Until the Distribution  Date (or earlier  redemption or
expiration  of the Rights),  the surrender or transfer of any  certificates  for
Common  Shares,  outstanding as of the Record Date,  even without  notation or a
copy of the Summary of Rights being attached  thereto,  will also constitute the
transfer of the Rights  associated  with the Common Shares  represented  by such
certificate.

Distribution Date

         The Rights will separate from the Common  Shares,  Rights  Certificates
will be issued and the Rights will become exercisable upon the earlier of: (i)10
days (or such later  date as may be



<PAGE>


determined  by a  majority  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  excluding  directors
affiliated  with  the  Acquiring  Person,  as  defined  below  (the  "Continuing
Directors"))  following  a  public  announcement  that  a  person  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  Common Shares,  or (ii) 10 business days (or such later date as may
be  determined  by  a  majority  of  the  Continuing  Directors)  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 15% or more of the outstanding  Common Shares.
The earlier of such dates is referred to as the "Distribution Date."

Issuance of Rights Certificates; Expiration of Rights

         As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate Rights
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 Rights Certificates
alone will evidence the Rights from and after the Distribution  Date. The Rights
will expire on the  earliest  of (i)  December  12, 2006 (the "Final  Expiration
Date") or (ii) redemption or exchange of the Rights as described below.

Initial Exercise of the Rights

         Following the  Distribution  Date,  and until one of the further events
described  below,  holders of the  Rights  will be  entitled  to  receive,  upon
exercise and the payment of the Purchase Price, one one-thousandth of a share of
the Series A Preferred.

Right to Buy Company Common Shares

         Unless the Rights are earlier redeemed,  in the event that an Acquiring
Person  becomes  the  beneficial  owner of 15% or more of the  Company's  Common
Shares then outstanding,  then proper provision will be made so that each holder
of a  Right  which  has  not  theretofore  been  exercised  (other  than  Rights
beneficially  owned by the  Acquiring  Person or any  affiliate of the Acquiring
Person,  which  will  thereafter  be void)  will  thereafter  have the  right to
receive,  upon  exercise,  Common  Shares  having a value equal to two times the
Purchase Price.  In the event that the Company does not have  sufficient  Common
Shares available for all Rights to be exercised,  or the Board decides that such
action is necessary  and not contrary to the  interests of Rights  holders,  the
Company may instead  substitute cash,  assets or other securities for the Common
Shares for which the Rights would have been exercisable.

Right to Buy Acquiring Company Stock

         Similarly,  unless the Rights are earlier redeemed,  in the event that,
after an Acquiring  Person  becomes the  beneficial  owner of 15% or more of the
Company's  Common  Shares  then  outstanding,  (i) the  Company is acquired in a
merger or other  business  combination  transaction,  or (ii) 50% or more of the
Company's  consolidated  assets  or  earning  power  are  sold  (other  than  in
transactions in the ordinary course of business),  proper provision must be made
so that each holder of a Right which has not thereto fore been exercised  (other
than Rights  beneficially  owned by the Acquiring Person or any affiliate of the
Acquiring Person,  which will thereafter be void) will

                                      -2-

<PAGE>


thereafter have the right to receive,  upon exercise,  shares of common stock of
the acquiring company having a value equal to two times the Purchase Price.

Exchange Provision

         At any time after the acquisition by an Acquiring  Person of beneficial
ownership of 15% or more of the Company's outstanding Common Shares and prior to
the  acquisition by any person or entity of beneficial  ownership of 50% or more
of the  Company's  outstanding  Common  Shares,  the Board of  Directors  of the
Company  may  exchange  the Rights  (other than  Rights  owned by the  Acquiring
Person),  in whole or in part,  at an  exchange  ratio of one  Common  Share per
Right.

Redemption

         At any time on or prior to the  close of  business  on the  earlier  of
(i)the 10th day following the  acquisition by an Acquiring  Person of beneficial
ownership of 15% or more of the  Company's  Common  Shares or such later date as
may be  determined  by a  majority  of the  Continuing  Directors  and  publicly
announced by the Company,  or (ii) the Final Expiration Date of the Rights,  the
Company  may redeem the Rights in whole,  but not in part,  at a price of $0.001
per Right.

Adjustments to Prevent Dilution

         The Purchase  Price  payable,  the number of Rights,  and the number of
Series A Preferred or Common  Shares or other  securities  or property  issuable
upon  exercise  of the Rights are  subject  to  adjustment  from time to time in
connection with the dilutive issuances by the Company as set forth in the Rights
Agreement.  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.

Cash Paid Instead of Issuing Fractional Shares

         No fractional  portion less than integral multiples of one Common Share
or one one  thousandth  of a share of Series A  Preferred  will be  issued  upon
exercise  of a Right and in lieu  thereof,  an  adjustment  in cash will be made
based on the market  price of the  security to be so issued on the last  trading
date prior to the date of exercise.

No Stockholders' Rights Prior to Exercise

         Until a Right is exercised,  the holder thereof,  as such, will have no
rights as a stockholder  of the Company  (other than any rights  resulting  from
such holder's ownership of Common Shares),  including,  without limitation,  the
right to vote or to receive dividends.

Amendment of Rights Agreement

         The provisions of the Rights  Agreement may be  supplemented or amended
by the Board of  Directors  in any manner  prior to the close of business on the
date the Rights  separate from the Common Shares and become  exercisable.  After
such date, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board in
order to cure any ambiguity,  defect or inconsistency,  to make changes which do
not adversely affect the interests of holders of Rights (excluding the interests
of

                                      -3-

<PAGE>


any  Acquiring  Person),  or to shorten or lengthen  any time  period  under the
Rights Agreement; provided, however, that no amendment to adjust the time period
governing  redemption  shall  be  made  at  such  time  as the  Rights  are  not
redeemable.

Rights and Preferences of the Series A Preferred

         Series A Preferred  purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be
redeemable.  Each share of Series A Preferred  will be entitled to an  aggregate
dividend of 1,000 times the dividend  declared per Common Share. In the event of
liquidation,  the  holders of the Series A  Preferred  will be entitled to 1,000
times the amount  paid per  Common  Share  plus an amount  equal to accrued  and
unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date
of such payment.  Each share of Series A Preferred will have 1,000 votes, voting
together  with the Common  Shares.  These  rights  are  protected  by  customary
anti-dilution provisions.

         Because of the nature of the dividend, liquidation and voting rights of
the shares of Series A Preferred,  the value of the one one-thousandth  interest
in a share of Series A Preferred  purchasable upon exercise of each Right should
approximate the value of one Common Share.

Certain Anti-takeover Effects

         The Rights  approved by the Board are  designed to protect and maximize
the value of the outstanding  equity interests in the Company in the event of an
unsolicited  attempt by an acquiror to take over the Company,  in a manner or on
terms not  approved  by the Board of  Directors.  Takeover  attempts  frequently
include  coercive  tactics to deprive the  Company's  Board of Directors and its
stockholders  of any real  opportunity  to determine the destiny of the Company.
The  Rights  have been  declared  by the Board in order to deter  such  tactics,
including  a  gradual  accumulation  of  shares  in the open  market of a 15% or
greater  position to be  followed  by a merger or a partial or  two-tier  tender
offer  that does not treat all  stockholders  equally.  These  tactics  unfairly
pressure  stockholders,  squeeze them out of their investment without giving the
many real choice and deprive them of the full value of their shares.

         The Rights are not  intended  to prevent a takeover  of the Company and
will not do so. The Rights may be  redeemed  by the  Company at $0.001 per Right
within ten days (or such later date as may be  determined  by a majority  of the
Continuing  Directors)  after the  accumulation  of 15% or more of the Company's
shares by a single  acquiror  or  group.  Accordingly,  the  Rights  should  not
interfere  with any  merger or  business  combination  approved  by the Board of
Directors.

         Issuance  of the  Rights  does  not in any  way  weaken  the  financial
strength of the Company or interfere  with its business  plans.  The issuance of
the Rights themselves has no dilutive effect,  will not affect reported earnings
per share, should not be taxable to the Company or to its shareholders, and will
not  change the way in which the  Company's  shares are  presently  traded.  The
Company's  Board of  Directors  believes  that the Rights  represent a sound and
reasonable means of addressing the complex issues of corporate policy created by
the current takeover environment.

         However,  the Rights may have the effect of rendering more difficult or
discouraging  an acquisition  of the Company deemed  undesirable by the Board of
Directors.  The Rights may cause

                                      -4-

<PAGE>


substantial  dilution to a person or group that  attempts to acquire the Company
on terms or in a manner not approved by the Company's Board of Directors, except
pursuant to an offer  conditioned  upon the negation,  purchase or redemption of
the Rights.

Item 2.           Exhibits.

      1.*       Preferred Shares Rights Agreement, dated as of December 12, 1996
                between  Pinnacle  Systems,  Inc.  and  ChaseMellon  Shareholder
                Services,   L.L.C.,   including  the  form  of   Certificate  of
                Determination, the form of Rights Certificate and the Summary of
                Rights attached thereto as Exhibits A, B and C, respectively.

      2.        Amendment No. 1 to Preferred Shares Rights Agreement dated as of
                April  30,  1998  by and  between  Pinnacle  Systems,  Inc.  and
                ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C.

- --------------------
*    Incorporated  by reference to the  Registrant's  Registration  Statement on
     Form 8-A filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission on December 19,
     1996.

                                      -5-

<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.

                                              PINNACLE SYSTEMS, INC.


Date: May 18, 1998
                                              By:    /s/ ARTHUR D. CHADWICK
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                     Arthur D. Chadwick
                                                     Vice President, Finance and
                                                     Administration and Chief
                                                     Financial Officer

                                      -6-

<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


   Exhibit
      1.*       Preferred Shares Rights Agreement, dated as of December 12, 1996
                between  Pinnacle  Systems,  Inc.  and  ChaseMellon  Shareholder
                Services,   L.L.C.,   including  the  form  of   Certificate  of
                Determination, the form of Rights Certificate and the Summary of
                Rights attached thereto as Exhibits A, B and C, respectively.

      2.        Amendment No. 1 to Preferred Shares Rights Agreement dated as of
                April  30,  1998  by and  between  Pinnacle  Systems,  Inc.  and
                ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C.

- --------------------
*    Incorporated  by reference to the  Registrant's  Registration  Statement on
     Form 8-A filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission on December 19,
     1996.

                                      -7-




                       AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT


        THIS AMENDMENT NO. 1 (this "Amendment"),  dated as of April 30, 1998, to
the  Preferred  Shares  Rights  Agreement,  dated as of  December  12, 1996 (the
"Rights Agreement"),  between Pinnacle Systems,  Inc., a California  corporation
(the "Company"),  and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services,  L.L.C., as Rights Agent
(the "Rights Agent").

          A. The  Company  and the Rights  Agent have  heretofore  executed  and
entered  into  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 Section 27
thereof.

          B. The Board of  Directors  of the  Company  has  determined  that the
amendments to the Rights  Agreement set forth below are in the best interests of
the shareholders of the Company.

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

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

                  (c)  "Affiliate"  and  "Associate"  shall have the  respective
         meanings  ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and
         Regulations under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
         "Exchange Act"), as in effect on the date of this Agreement;  provided,
         however that the  acquisition by or beneficial  ownership of any Person
         of less than 20% of the "Voting  Securities"  (as defined in Rule 12b-2
         of the General  Rules and  Regulations  under the Exchange  Act) of any
         "Investment  Adviser" (as defined under the Investment  Advisers Act of
         1940, as amended (the "Investment Advisers Act")), registered under the
         Investment  Advisers Act,  shall not,  solely by virtue of ownership of
         such  Voting  Securities,  cause  such  Person  to be  deemed  to be an
         "Affiliate" or "Associate"  of such  Investment  Adviser nor shall such
         Investment  Adviser be deemed to be an  "Affiliate"  or  "Associate" of
         such Person.

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

         3. This Amendment 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.



<PAGE>


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

         5. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Amendment 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,  and of the Rights  Agreement,  shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.


                  [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]


                                       -2-

<PAGE>



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


"COMPANY"                                   PINNACLE SYSTEMS, INC.


                                            By: /s/ MARK L. SANDERS
                                                --------------------------------
                                                Mark L. Sanders, President and 
                                                Chief Executive Officer


"RIGHTS AGENT"                              CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER
                                            SERVICES, L.L.C.


                                            By: /s/JOSEPH W. THATCHER
                                                --------------------------------
                                            Name: Joseph W. Thatcher
                                                  ------------------------------
                                            Title: Assistant Vice President
                                                   -----------------------------

                                       -3-



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