SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-A/A
AMENDMENT NO. 2
FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
ADVANCED TISSUE SCIENCES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
DELAWARE 0-016607 14-1701513
(State of incorporation (Commission (IRS Employer
or organization) File Number) Identification No.)
10933 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California, 92037
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (858) 713-7300
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b)
of the Act:
None
(Title of Class)
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g)
of the Act:
PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE RIGHTS
(Title of Class)
NASDAQ NATIONAL MARKET
(Name of Exchange)
<PAGE>
Item 1. Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered.
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On December 13, 1999, Advanced Tissue Sciences, Inc. (the "Company")
amended its Rights Agreement, dated January 6, 1995, and subsequently amended on
November 8, 1999 (the "Rights Agreement"), to eliminate those provisions that
require that certain actions may only be taken by "Continuing Directors," as set
forth on Exhibit 1 attached hereto. This Amendment to the Rights Agreement was
made in response to the Delaware Court of Chancery's recent decision in Carmody
v. Toll Brothers, Inc. In the view of the Company's Board of Directors, based on
advice of counsel, the Toll Brothers decision has cast doubt on the legality
under Delaware law of "Continuing Directors" provisions, also referred to as
"dead-hand" provisions, in many existing shareholder rights plans. Although the
opinion related to the denial of a motion to dismiss an action challenging the
"Continuing Directors" provision and not an opinion addressing the actual
validity of the provision under Delaware law, the Delaware court stated that a
"Continuing Directors" provision was open to challenge under Delaware law on
both statutory and fiduciary grounds. A "Continuing Directors" provision
provides that outstanding rights can only be redeemed by "continuing directors,"
which is generally defined to mean directors who were members of the board at
the time the Rights Agreement was adopted and any other person who subsequently
becomes a member of the board if such person's nomination for election to the
board was recommended or approved by a majority of the continuing directors.
While the Company's Rights Agreement differs in significant respects from the
plan considered in the Toll Brothers case, particularly in regard to the
"Continuing Directors" provisions thereof, the Board of Directors believes the
disputed validity of these provisions under the Toll Brothers opinion warrants
action to amend the Rights Agreement. The Second Amendment to Rights Agreement
is attached hereto as Exhibit 1 and is incorporated by reference herein.
<PAGE>
Item 2. Exhibits.
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1. Second Amendment to Rights Agreement entered into as of December 13,
1999, between ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights
Agent and Advanced Tissue Sciences, Inc.
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.
ADVANCED TISSUE SCIENCES, INC.
Date: March 28, 2000 By: /s/ Michael V. Swanson
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Michael V. Swanson
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number Document Description
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1 Second Amendment to Rights Agreement entered into as of
December 13, 1999, between ChaseMellon Shareholder
Services, L.L.C. and Advanced Tissue Sciences, Inc.
EXHIBIT 1
SECOND AMENDMENT TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS SECOND AMENDMENT (the "Amendment") is entered into as of December 13,
1999 by ADVANCED TISSUE SCIENCES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C., a New Jersey limited liability
company (formerly CHEMICAL TRUST COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA), as Rights Agent (the
"Rights Agent").
Recitals
A. The Company and the Rights Agent are parties to a Rights Agreement dated
as of January 6, 1999, as amended November 8, 1999, (the "Rights Agreement").
B. The Board has become aware that a recent Delaware Chancery Court case,
Carmody v. Toll Brothers, Inc., found certain "continuing director" provisions
of stockholder rights plans subject to legal challenge on both statutory and
fiduciary grounds.
C. In light of the Carmody decision, the Board has determined that it is in
the best interest of the Company and its stockholders to amend the Rights
Agreement to eliminate the continuing director provisions of the Rights
Agreement as set forth herein.
Accordingly, the parties agree that:
1. Certain Definitions. Section 1 of the Rights Agreement shall be amended
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as follows:
(a.) The phrase "upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the
Continuing Directors," in Section 1(c)(ii)(A)(2) shall be deleted.
(b.) The definition of Continuing Director in Section 1(i) shall be
deleted and replaced with the phrase "[Intentionally Omitted]."
2. Amendment of Section 11. Section 11 of the Rights Agreement shall be
amended as follows:
(a.) The phrase ", upon approval by a majority of the Continuing
Directors," in Section 11(a)(ii)(C)(2) shall be deleted.
(b.) The phrase "at least a majority of the Continuing Directors" in
Section 11(a)(iii)(B) shall be deleted and replaced by the phrase "the
Board of Directors"; and the phrase "which such members of the Board of
Directors deem" in Section 11(a)(iii)(B) shall be deleted and replaced by
the phrase "that the Board of Directors deems."
(c.) The phrase ", upon approval by a majority of the Continuing
Directors," which appears five times in Section 11(a)(iv), shall be
deleted.
(d.) The phrase ", upon approval by a majority of the Continuing
Directors," in Section 11(b) shall be deleted.
<PAGE>
(e.) The phrase ", upon approval by a majority of the Continuing
Directors," in Section 11(c) shall be deleted.
(f.) The phrase ", upon approval by a majority of the Continuing
Directors," which appears twice in Section 11(d), shall be deleted.
3. Amendment of Section 13(d). The phrase "upon approval by a majority of
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the Continuing Directors," in Section 13(d) shall be deleted.
4. Amendment of Section 14(a). The phrase ", upon approval by a majority of
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the Continuing Directors," which appears twice in Section 14(a), shall be
deleted.
5. Amendment of Section 22. The phrase ", upon approval by a majority of
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the Continuing Directors," which appears twice in Section 22, shall be deleted.
6. Amendment of Section 23(a). The phrase "a majority of the Continuing
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Directors," which appears three times in Section 23(a), shall be deleted and
replaced by the phrase "the Board of Directors"; and the phrase ", upon approval
by a majority of the Continuing Directors" in Section 23(a) shall be deleted.
7. Amendment of Section 24. The phrase ", upon approval by a majority of
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the Continuing Directors," which appears four times in Section 24, shall be
deleted.
8. Amendment of Section 27. The phrase "upon approval by a majority of the
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Continuing Directors," which appears three times in Section 27, shall be
deleted.
9. Amendment of Section 29. The phrase "(and, where specifically provided
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for herein, only upon approval by a majority of the Continuing Directors)" in
Section 29 shall be deleted; the phrase "(or, where specifically provided for
herein, only upon approval by a majority of the Continuing Directors)" in
Section 29 shall be deleted; and the phrase "or the Continuing Directors" in the
last sentence in Section 29 shall be deleted.
10. Amendment of Section 31. The phrase ", upon approval by a majority of
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the Continuing Directors," in Section 31 shall be deleted.
11. Miscellaneous. This Amendment shall be deemed to be a contract made
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under 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. This Amendment
may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of such counterparts shall
for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall
together constitute but one and the same instrument. 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
shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired
or invalidated.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Amendment to be duly
executed and attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
ATTEST: ADVANCED TISSUE SCIENCES, INC.,
a Delaware corporation
Name: /s/ Michael V. Swanson Name: /s/ Arthur J. Benvenuto
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Title: Senior Vice President and Title: Chairman and Chief Executive
Chief Financial Officer Officer
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ATTEST: CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER
SERVICES, L.L.C.
Name: /s/ J. Canuto Name: /s/ James Kirkland
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Title: Assistant Vice President Title: Assistant Vice President
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