FORM 8-A
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
RALSTON PURINA COMPANY
(Exact Name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Missouri 43-0470580
(State of incorporation) (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
One Checkerboard Square, St. Louis, Missouri 63164
(Address of principal executive offices, Zip Code)
If this Form relates to the registration of a class of debt securities and is to
become effective upon filing pursuant to General Instruction A.(c)(1), please
check the following box. [x]
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(b) of the Act:
Title of each class Name of each exchange on which
to be so registered each class is to be registered
7 3/4% Debentures due October 1, 2015 New York Stock Exchange
8 1/8% Debentures due February 1, 2023 New York Stock Exchange
7 7/8% Debentures due June 15, 2025 New York Stock Exchange
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Item 1. Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered.
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The material set forth in the section captioned `Description of Debt
Securities''in the Prospectus filed as part of the Registrant's Form S-3
Registration Statement (Registration Nos. 33-45213) filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission on January 23, 1992, the material set forth in the
section captioned `Description of Debt Securities'' in the Prospectus filed as
part of the Registrant's Form S-3 Registration Statement (Registration No.33-
59663), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 26, 1995, the
Form of Debenture filed as Exhibit 4(c)(i) to Form S-3 Registration Statement
(No. 33-45213), the Form of Debenture filed as Exhibit 4(c) to the Registrant's
Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated June 15, 1995, and the Form of Debenture
filed as Exhibit 4(c) to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated
September 29, 1995, are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 2. Exhibits.
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4. (i) Form of the Registrant's 8 1/8% Debentures due 2023, incorporated
herein by reference from Exhibit 4c to the Registrant's Form S-3
Registration Statement (Registration No. 33-45213) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on January 23, 1992.
(ii) Form of the Registrant's 7 3/4% Debentures due 2015, incorporated
herein by reference from Exhibit 4(c) to the Registrant's Current Report on
Form 8-K/A dated June 15, 1995.
(iii) Form of the Registrant's 7 7/8% Debentures due 2025, incorporated
herein by reference from Exhibit 4(c) to the Registrant's Current Report on
Form 8-K dated September 29, 1995.
(iv) Indenture dated as of May 26, 1995 between the Registrant and the
First National Bank of Chicago and relating to the 7 34% Debentures and the
7 7/8% Debentures is incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit 4(a) to
the Registrant's Form S-3 Registration Statement (No. 33-59663) filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 26, 1995.
(v) Indenture dated as of January 31, 1992 between the Registrant and the
First National Bank of Chicago and relating to the 8 1/8 Debentures is
incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit 4 to the Registrant's Form S-
3 Registration Statement (No. 33-33-45213) filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on January 23, 1992.
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, on this 25 day of
October, 1995.
RALSTON PURINA COMPANY
By: James R. Elsesser
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James R. Elsesser
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Dated: October 26, 1995
