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
___% Exchangeable Notes due 2000 New York Stock Exchange
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
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Item 1. Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered.
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The material set forth in the section captioned "Description of the SAILS" in
the Prospectus Supplement to the Prospectus dated July 11, 1997, filed as part
of the Registrant's Form S-3 Registration Statement (Registration No.
333-27959) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 29, 1997,
as amended, and the Form of Note filed as Exhibit 4(c) to Form S-3
Registration Statement (No. 333-27959), are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 2. Exhibits.
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4. (i) Form of the Registrant's ____% Note due 2000, incorporated herein
by reference from Exhibit 4(c) to the Registrant's Form S-3 Registration
Statement (Registration No. 333-27959) filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on May 29, 1997. (ii) Indenture dated as of May 26, 1995 between
the Registrant and the First National Bank of Chicago 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. (iii) Form of Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 29, 1997,
between the Registrant and the First National Bank of Chicago is incorporated
herein by reference from Exhibit 4(b) to the Registrant's Form S-3
Registration Statement (Reg. No. 333-27959) filed with the S.E.C. on May 29,
1997.
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 18th day
of July, 1997.
RALSTON PURINA COMPANY
By: /s/James R. Elsesser
James R. Elsesser
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Dated: July 18, 1997
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