<PAGE>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
----------------------------------
FORM 8-A/A
AMENDMENT TO REGISTRATION STATEMENT
FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
ALPHA-BETA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
-----------------------------------
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
MASSACHUSETTS 04-2997834
- ----------------------------- ------------------
(State or other jurisdiction (IRS employer
of incorporation) identification no.)
THREE BIOTECH PARK, ONE INNOVATION DRIVE, WORCESTER, MA 01605
-------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Name of each exchange
Title of each class on which each class is
to be so registered to be registered
------------------- ----------------------------
NONE NONE
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASE RIGHTS
-------------------------------
(Title of Class)
<PAGE>
FIRST AMENDMENT
The undersigned registrant hereby amends the following items, financial
statements, exhibits and other portions of its registration statement on Form 8-
A relating to its Preferred Stock Purchase Rights as set forth below:
Item 1. Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered.
-------------------------------------------------------
Item 1 is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:
On November 13, 1997, the Company amended the Rights Agreement in order
to exempt acquisitions of the Common Stock by Ross Financial Corporation, a
corporation organized and existing under the laws of the Cayman Islands, from
the operation of the provisions of the Rights Agreement.
Item 2 - Exhibits
- ------------------
Item 2 is hereby amended by adding the following:
Exhibit 2 First Amendment, dated as of November 13, 1997,
to Shareholder Rights Agreement, dated as of February
2, 1997, between Alpha-Beta Technology, Inc. and
BankBoston, N.A. f/k/a The First National Bank of Boston,
as Rights Agent
<PAGE>
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this amendment to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.
ALPHA-BETA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Dated: November 25, 1997 By: /s/ Spiros Jamas
_______________________
Name: Spiros Jamas
Title: President and Chief
Executive Officer
<PAGE>
Exhibit 2
FIRST AMENDMENT TO
SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT
----------------------------
Amendment, dated as of November 13, 1997, to the Shareholder Rights
Agreement, dated as of February 2, 1995 (the "Rights Agreement"), between Alpha-
Beta Technology, Inc. (the "Company") and BankBoston, N.A. f/k/a The First
National Bank of Boston, as the rights agent (the "Rights Agent").
W I T N E S S E T H
- - - - - - - - - -
WHEREAS, in accordance with the terms of the Rights Agreement, the Company
deems it desirable to make certain amendments to the Rights Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Section 27 of the Rights Agreement provides that prior to the
Distribution Date (as defined therein) the Company and the Rights Agent shall,
if the Company so directs, amend or supplement any provision of the Rights
Agreement as the Company may deem necessary or desirable without the approval of
any holders of the Company's common stock.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements
herein set forth the parties hereby agree that the Rights Agreement is hereby
amended as follows (capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have
the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Rights Agreement):
1. The first paragraph of Section 1(a) of the Rights Agreement is amended
and restated as follows:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or which, together with
----------------
all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner of
15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, but shall not
include (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary of the Company, (iii) any employee
benefit plan or compensation arrangement of the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company, (iv) any Person holding shares of Common Stock organized, appointed or
established by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company for or pursuant to
the terms of any such employee benefit plan or compensation arrangement, or (v)
Ross Financial Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the laws
of the Cayman Islands ("Ross Financial"), (the Persons described in clauses (i)
through (v) above are referred to herein as "Exempt Persons").
2. Section 1(b) of the Rights Agreement is amended and restated as
follows:
(b) "Adverse Person" shall mean any Person, other than Ross Financial,
--------------
declared to be an Adverse Person by the Board of Directors upon a determination
of the Board of Directors that the criteria set forth in Section 11(a)(ii)(B)
apply to such Person.
<PAGE>
3. Section 3(c) of the Rights Agreement is amended and restated as
follows:
(c) Certificates for the Common Stock issued after November 13, 1997,
but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date or the redemption, expiration
or termination of the Rights, shall be deemed also to be certificates for
Rights, and shall bear a legend, substantially in the form set forth below:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
certain Rights as set forth in a Shareholder Rights Agreement between
Alpha-Beta Technology, Inc. and BankBoston, N.A. f/k/a The First
National Bank of Boston, as Rights Agent, dated as of February 2,
1995, as amended on November 13, 1997 (the "Rights Agreement"), the
terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy
of which is on file at the principal offices of Alpha-Beta Technology,
Inc. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights
Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced by separate certificates and
will no longer be evidenced by this certificate. Alpha-Beta
Technology, Inc. may redeem the Rights at a redemption price of $0.01
per Right, subject to adjustment, under the terms of the Rights
Agreement. Alpha-Beta Technology, Inc. will mail to the holder of
this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement, as in effect on the
date of mailing, without charge promptly after receipt of a written
request therefor. Under certain circumstances, Rights issued to or
held by Acquiring Persons, Adverse Persons or any Affiliates or
Associates thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement), and any
subsequent holder of such Rights, may become null and void.
4. Section 27 of the Rights Agreement is amended by adding the following
sentence at the end of such Section:
Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the consent of Ross
Financial must be obtained regarding any amendment of or supplement to this
Agreement which at any time could result in Ross Financial becoming an Acquiring
Person or being declared an Adverse Person pursuant to the terms hereof.
As amended hereby, the Rights Agreement shall continue in full force and
effect in accordance with its terms.
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be
duly executed as of the date first set forth above. This Amendment may be
executed in one or more counterparts all of which shall be considered one and
the same amendment and each of which shall be deemed to be an original.
ALPHA-BETA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
By: /s/ Spiros Jamas
_________________________________________
Name: Spiros Jamas
Title: President/CEO
BANKBOSTON, N.A.
By: /s/ Katherine Anderson
_________________________________________
Name: Katherine Anderson
Title: Director, Client Services
