UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
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Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
HESKA CORPORATION
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(Name of Issuer)
Heska Corporation Common Stock ("HSKA Stock")
$.001 par value
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(Title of Class of Securities)
42805E 10 8 (HSKA Stock)
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(CUSIP Number)
July 30, 1998
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(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule
is filed:
Rule 13d-1(b)
- ----
X Rule 13d-1(c)
- ----
Rule 13d-1(d)
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*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).
POTENTIAL PERSONS, WHO ARE TO RESPOND TO THE COLLECTION OF INFORMATION CONTAINED
IN THIS FORM ARE NOT REQUIRED TO RESPOND UNLESS THE FORM DISPLAYS A CURRENTLY
VALID OMB CONTROL NUMBER.
<PAGE>
CUSIP No. 42805E 10 8
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1. NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS.
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY).
Ralston Purina Company ("Ralston")
I.R.S. Identification No. 43-0470580
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2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
(a) [x] (See Item 2)
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3. SEC USE ONLY:
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4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION:
Missouri
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Number of 5. SOLE VOTING POWER
Shares Bene-
ficially Owned 1,165,592 shares (additional 1,165,592 shares which may
by Each Reporting be acquired upon exercise of warrants do not have voting
Person With: rights until issued upon exercise)
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6. SHARED VOTING POWER
-0-
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7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER:
2,331,184 (additional 1,165,592 shares which may be
acquired upon exercise of warrants)
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8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER:
-0-
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9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING
PERSON:
2,331,184 (additional 1,165,592 shares which may be
acquired upon exercise of warrants)
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10. CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES
CERTAIN SHARES:
Not applicable.
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11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11):
8.83%
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12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON:
CO
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SCHEDULE 13G
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ITEM 1.
(a) Name of Issuer: Heska Corporation
(b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
1825 Sharp Point Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525
ITEM 2.
(a) Name of Person Filing: Ralston
(b) Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence:
Checkerboard Square, St. Louis, MO 63164
(c) Citizenship: See responses to Item 4 on Cover Sheet.
(d) Title of Class of Securities: Heska Common Stock.
(e) CUSIP Number: 42805E 10 8 (HSKA Stock).
ITEM 3. IF THIS STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO 240.13D-1(B) OR
240.13D-2(B) OR (C), CHECK WHETHER THE PERSON FILING IS A:
(a) Broker or dealer registered under Section 15
---- of the Act (15 U.S.C.78o):
(b) Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c):
----
(c) Insurance Company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15
---- U.S.C. 78c):
(d) Investment Company registered under section 8 of the Investment
---- Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8):
(e) An investment adviser in accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F):
----
(f) An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with
---- 240.13d- 1(b)(1)(ii)(G):
(g) A parent holding company or control person in accordance with
---- 240.13d-1(b)(ii)(G):
(h) A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal
--- Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813):
(i) A church plan this is excluded from the definition of an investment
--- company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of
1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3):
(j) Group, in accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J):
----
Not Applicable.
ITEM 4. OWNERSHIP.
Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and
percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1.
(a) Amount Beneficially Owned: 2,331,184 (including 1,165,592
shares which may be acquired upon exercise of warrants)
(b) Percent of Class: 8.83%
(c) Number of shares as to which the person has:
(i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 1,165,592
(additional 1,165,592 shares which may be acquired
upon exercise of warrants do not have voting rights until
issued upon exercise)
(ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 0
(iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
2,331,184 (including 1,165,592 shares which may be acquired
upon exercise of warrants)
(iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 0
ITEM 5. OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS.
If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date
hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than
five percent of the class of securities, check the following:
Not Applicable.
ITEM 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON.
If any other person is known to have the right to receive or the power to
direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, such
securities, a statement to that effect should be included in response to this
item and, if such interest relates to more than five percent of the class, such
person should be identified. A listing of the shareholders of an investment
company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or the beneficiaries
of employee benefit plan, pension fund or endowment fund is not required.
Not applicable.
ITEM 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED
THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY.
If a parent holding company has filed this schedule, pursuant to Rule
13d-1(b)(ii)(G), so indicate under item 3(g) and attach an exhibit stating the
identity and the Item 3 classification of the relevant subsidiary. If a parent
holding company has filed this schedule pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c), attach an
exhibit stating the identification of the relevant subsidiary.
Not applicable.
ITEM 8. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP.
If a group has filed this schedule pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b)(ii)(J), so
indicate under Item 3(j) and attach an exhibit stating the identity and Item 3
classification of each member of the group. If a group has filed this schedule
pursuant to 240.13d-1(c) or 240.13d-1(d), attach an exhibit stating the
identity of each member of the group.
Not applicable.
ITEM 9. NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP.
Notice of dissolution of a group may be furnished as an exhibit stating the
date of the dissolution and that all further filings with respect to
transactions in the security reported on will be filed, if required, by members
of the group, in their individual capacity. See Item 5.
Not applicable.
ITEM 10. CERTIFICATION.
By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief,
the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the
purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the
issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection
with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and
correct.
August 4, 1998
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Date
/s/ James M. Neville
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Signature
James M. Neville
Vice President and General Counsel
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Name/Title
The original statement shall be signed by each person on whose behalf the
statement is filed or his authorized representative. If the statement is signed
on behalf of a person by his authorized representative other that an executive
officer or general partner of the filing person, evidence of the
representative's authority to sign on behalf of such person shall be filed with
the statement, provided, however, that a power of attorney for this purpose
which is already on file with the Commission may be incorporated by reference.
The name and any title of each person who signs the statement shall be typed or
printed beneath his signature.
