CHECKERS DRIVE IN RESTAURANTS INC /DE
8-A12G, 1997-05-12
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                                   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


                       CHECKERS DRIVE-IN RESTAURANTS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


             Delaware                                     58-1654960
- ------------------------------------       -------------------------------------

      (State of incorporation                         (IRS Employer
         or organization)                           Identification No.)



600 Cleveland Street, Eighth Floor
Clearwater, Florida                                          34615
- ------------------------------------       -------------------------------------

(Address of principal executive offices)                 (Zip Code)


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

               None                                         None
- ------------------------------------      --------------------------------------

If this Form relates to the  registration  of a class of debt  securities and is
effective upon filing pursuant to General Instruction A.(c)(1), please check the
following box. [ ]

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(g) of the Act:

          Warrants to Purchase Common Stock, expiring December 22, 2000
       -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                (Title of Class)

                                    -1-


<PAGE>

ITEM 1.     DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT'S SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED.
            --------------------------------------------------------

      This   registration   statement  relates  to  the  registration  with  the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission  of warrants (the  "Warrants")  to purchase
shares of common  stock,  par value  $0.001 per share (the "Common  Stock"),  of
Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Registrant").

                           DESCRIPTION OF THE WARRANTS

      The following is a brief summary of the material terms of the Warrants and
the Warrant Agreement under which the Warrants were issued.  The form of Warrant
and the  Warrant  Agreement  are  attached  to this  Registration  Statement  as
exhibits and are incorporated herein by this reference.  The descriptions of the
terms of the Warrant and the Warrant  Agreement are qualified in their  entirety
by reference to the form of Warrant and the Warrant Agreement.

      The Warrants  were issued in  connection  with the  settlement  of a class
action  lawsuit,   entitled   RICHARD  LOPEZ,  ET  AL.,  V.  CHECKERS   DRIVE-IN
RESTAURANTS,  INC., ET AL.,  filed in the United States  District  Court for the
Middle District of Florida,  Tampa  Division,  Case No.  94-282-CIV-T-17C,  to a
group of approximately  12,000  plaintiffs.  The issuance,  division,  transfer,
exchange and exercise of the Warrants is governed by the terms and conditions of
the  Warrant  Agreement,  dated  March 11,  1997,  between  the  Registrant  and
ChaseMellon   Shareholder   Services,   L.L.C.,   of  Pittsburgh,   Pennsylvania
("ChaseMellon").  ChaseMellon  serves as the  warrant  agent  under the  Warrant
Agreement as well as the registered transfer agent for the Warrants.

      The Warrants  provide for the  purchase of a total of 5,100,000  shares of
Common  Stock  at  a  price  of  $1.375  per  share.  The  Warrants  are  freely
transferable  and are  expected  to be listed for  trading  on the Nasdaq  Stock
Market's National Market.

      On or before  November 22, 2000,  the  Registrant  is required to prepare,
file and have  declared  effective by the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission
("SEC"),  a  registration  statement  under  the  Securities  Act of  1933  (the
"Registration  Statement") registering the shares of Common Stock underlying the
Warrants  for  issuance  upon  exercise  of  the  Warrants.  Provided  that  the
Registration  Statement is declared  effective by the SEC on or before  November
22,  2000,  holders of the Warrants may exercise the Warrants at any time during
the period from  November  22, 2000 through  December 22, 2000 (the  "Expiration
Date").  Unless the Expiration Date is extended as described below, the Warrants
will expire and be cancelled at 4:00 p.m. on December 22, 2000, and thereafter a
holder of a Warrant will have no right to purchase Common Stock. The Company may
delay  the  filing  of the  Registration  Statement  or the  declaration  of the
effectiveness  thereof  under  certain  conditions,  and after the  Registration
Statement is declared effective,  the Company may suspend  effectiveness and the
right of holders to exercise the Warrants under certain circumstances;  however,
in any such event,  the Expiration  Date will be extended to provide the holders
of the Warrants with at least a thirty-day period during which they may exercise
their Warrants.

      The  number of shares of Common  Stock  which may be  purchased  under the
Warrants,  as well as the exercise price, are subject to adjustment from time to
time under certain circumstances, including upon the payment of stock dividends,
or the subdivision or combination of the outstanding  shares of Common Stock. In
the event of a merger of the Company into another corporation,  each holder of a

                                    -2-

<PAGE>

Warrant will have the right  thereafter,  upon payment of the exercise  price in
effect  immediately  prior to the  merger,  to  purchase  the kind and amount of
securities  or  property  which he would have owned or been  entitled to receive
after the  happening of such merger had the Warrant been  exercised  immediately
prior to such action.

      Until a Warrant is  exercised,  the holder of the  Warrant has none of the
rights of a stockholder of the Registrant,  such as the right to vote or receive
dividends.

                         DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMON STOCK

      The   description  of  the  Common  Stock  set  forth  under  the  caption
"Description of Checkers  Capital Stock" at page 73 of the Prospectus  contained
in  the  Registrant's  Registration  Statement  on  Form  S-1,  filed  with  the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission on April 22, 1996 (File No.  333-3802),  is
incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 2.     EXHIBITS.
            --------    
                                   Description
                                   -----------

1.1     Specimen of Warrant Certificate.

1.2     Specimen of Common Stock  Certificate,  as filed with the  Commission as
        Exhibit  4.3 to the  Amendment  No. 1 to the  Registrant's  Registration
        Statement  on Form S-1,  filed with the  Commission  on November 8, 1991
        (File No. 33-42996), is hereby incorporated herein by this reference.

2.1     Restated  Certificate of Incorporation of Registrant,  as filed with the
        Commission as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's  Registration Statement on
        Form S-1,  filed with the  Commission  on  September  26, 1991 (File No.
        33-42996), is hereby incorporated herein by this reference.

2.2     Certificate  of Amendment to Restated  Certificate of  Incorporation  of
        Registrant,   as  filed  with  the   Commission  as  Exhibit  3  to  the
        Registrant's  Form 10-Q for the quarter  ended June 30, 1993,  is hereby
        incorporated herein by this reference.

2.3     Certificate  of   Designation  of  Series  A  Preferred   Stock  of  the
        Registrant,  dated  February 12, 1997,  as filed with the  Commission as
        Exhibit 3.1 to the  Registrant's  Form 8-K,  dated February 19, 1997, is
        hereby incorporated herein by this reference.

2.4     Warrant Agreement dated as of March 11, 1997, between the Registrant and
        ChaseMellon  Shareholder  Services,  L.L.C.,  as Warrant Agent, as filed
        with the Commission as Exhibit 10.38 to the  Registrant's  Form 10-K for
        the year ended December 30, 1996, is hereby  incorporated herein by this
        reference.

2.5     Bylaws of  Registrant,  as amended  through  February 16, 1995, as filed
        with the Commission as Exhibit 3.3 to the Registrant's Form 10-Q for the
        quarter  ended March 27, 1995,  are hereby  incorporated  herein by this
        reference.


                                       -3-

<PAGE>



                                    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 hereunto duly authorized.




                                  CHECKERS DRIVE-IN RESTAURANTS, INC.


                                  By:   /s/ Joseph N. Stein
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                      Joseph N. Stein, Executive Vice President,
                                      Chief Financial Officer and Chief
                                      Administrative Officer




Dated:  May 12, 1997





























                                       -4-

<PAGE>




                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
                                  -------------



                                   Description
                                   -----------

1.1     Specimen of Warrant Certificate.

1.2     Specimen of Common Stock  Certificate,  as filed with the  Commission as
        Exhibit  4.3 to the  Amendment  No. 1 to the  Registrant's  Registration
        Statement  on Form S-1,  filed with the  Commission  on November 8, 1991
        (File No. 33-42996), is hereby incorporated herein by this reference.

2.1     Restated  Certificate of Incorporation of Registrant,  as filed with the
        Commission as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's  Registration Statement on
        Form S-1,  filed with the  Commission  on  September  26, 1991 (File No.
        33-42996), is hereby incorporated herein by this reference.

2.2     Certificate  of Amendment to Restated  Certificate of  Incorporation  of
        Registrant,   as  filed  with  the   Commission  as  Exhibit  3  to  the
        Registrant's  Form 10-Q for the quarter  ended June 30, 1993,  is hereby
        incorporated herein by this reference.

2.3     Certificate  of   Designation  of  Series  A  Preferred   Stock  of  the
        Registrant,  dated  February 12, 1997,  as filed with the  Commission as
        Exhibit 3.1 to the  Registrant's  Form 8-K,  dated February 19, 1997, is
        hereby incorporated herein by this reference.

2.4     Warrant Agreement dated as of March 11, 1997, between the Registrant and
        ChaseMellon  Shareholder  Services,  L.L.C.,  as Warrant Agent, as filed
        with the Commission as Exhibit 10.38 to the  Registrant's  Form 10-K for
        the year ended December 30, 1996, is hereby  incorporated herein by this
        reference.

2.5     Bylaws of  Registrant,  as amended  through  February 16, 1995, as filed
        with the Commission as Exhibit 3.3 to the Registrant's Form 10-Q for the
        quarter  ended March 27, 1995,  are hereby  incorporated  herein by this
        reference.











                                    -5-

                                                             WARRANT CERTIFICATE
                                     WARRANT

THIS  WARRANT  WILL BE VOID IF NOT  EXERCISED  PRIOR TO THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON
                               DECEMBER 22, 2000

                      CHECKERS DRIVE. IN RESTAURANTS, INC,

                         COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT

    THIS CERTIFIES  that, for value  received,  CHECKERS  DRIVE-IN  RESTAURANTS,
INC.,  a  Delaware  corporation  (hereinafter  called the  'Company"),  upon the
surrender  of this  Warrant to the  Company at the office of the  Warrant  Agent
hereinafter mentioned (or of its successor as Warrant Agent), provided, and only
if,  this  Warrant  shall be so  surrendered  during  the period  commencing  on
November 22, 2000,  and ending at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on December 22, 2000
(the  "Exercise  Period," as the same may be extended as provided in the Warrant
Agreement hereinafter mentioned), will sell and deliver, or cause to be sold and
delivered, to



or  registered  assigns,  a  certificate  for  the  number  of  fully  paid  and
non-assessable  shares of the Company's Common Stock, par value $.001 per share,
as noted above,  upon  payment of the warrant  price for the number of shares in
respect  of which this  Warrant  is  exercised;  provided,  however,  that under
certain  conditions  set forth in the Warrant  Agreement the number of shares of
the Company's Common Stock  purchasable upon the exercise of this Warrant may be
Increased  or  reduced  and  the  warrant  price  may be  adjusted.  Subject  to
adjustment as aforesaid, the warrant price per share (herein called the "warrant
price")  shall be $1.375.  As provided in said  Warrant  Agreement,  the warrant
price is  payable,  upon the  exercise  of this  Warrant,  either  in cash or by
certified check or bank draft. No adjustment  shall be made for any dividends on
any shares of Common Stock Issuable upon exercise of this Warrant.  The right of
purchase  represented by the Warrant Is exercisable  during the Exercise Period,
at the election of the registered  holder hereof,  either as an entirety or from
time to time for part only of the shares specified herein and, in the event that
this  Warrant Is  exercised  in respect of less than all of such  shares,  a new
Warrant  for  the  remaining  number  of such  shares  will  be  Issued  on such
surrender.
    Upon the exercise of this  Warrant,  the form of election to purchase on the
reverse hereof must be duly executed and the  accompanying  instructions for the
registration and delivery of Common Stock must be filled in.
    This Warrant is Issued under and the rights  represented  hereby are subject
to the terms and provisions contained in a  Warrant Agreement, dated as of March
11, 1997,  between the Company and  ChaseMellon  Shareholder  Services,  L.L.C.,
Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  as Warrant Agent, to all the terms and provisions of
which the  registered  holder of this Warrant,  by acceptance  hereof,  assents.
Reference Is hereby made to said Warrant Agreement for a more complete statement
of the rights and  limitations  o! rights of the registered  holder hereof,  the
rights and duties of the  Warrant  Agent and the rights and  obligations  of the
Company  thereunder.  Copies of said Warrant Agreement are on file at the office
of &aid Warrant  Agent.  The Company  shall not be required upon the exercise of
this Warrant to Issue fractions of shares, but shall make adjustment therefor in
cash on the  basis  of the  current  market  value  of any  fractional  interest
(computed as provided in said Warrant Agreement).


<PAGE>

    This Warrant is  transferable  at the office of the Warrant Agent (or of its
successor  as Warrant  Agent) by the  registered  holder  hereof In person or by
attorney duly  authorized in writing,  but only in the manner and subject to the
limitations  provided  in the  Warrant  Agreement,  and upon  surrender  of this
Warrant.  Upon any such  transfer,  a new Warrant,  or new Warrants of different
denominations,  of like tenor and  representing  in the  aggregate  the right to
purchase  a like  number  of  shares  of  Common  Stock  will be  issued  to the
transferee In exchange for this Warrant.
    This Warrant  when  surrendered  at the office of the Warrant  Agent (or of'
iits successor as Warrant Agent) by the registered holder hereof in person or by
attorney duly authorized In writing may be exchanged,  In the manner and subject
to the limitations  provided In the Warrant Agreement,  for another Warrant,  or
other Warrants of different denominations, of like tenor and representing in the
aggregate the right to purchase a like number of shares of Common Stock.
    If this Warrant shall be surrendered  for exercise  within any palled during
which the transfer books for Common Stock or other  securities  purchasable upon
the exercise of this Warrant are closed for any purpose,  the Company  shall not
be required to make delivery of certificates for the securities purchasable upon
such exercise until the date of the reopening of said transfer books.
  The holder of this  Warrant  shall not be  entitled  to any of the rights of a
  stockholder  of the Company prior to the exercise  hereof.  This Warrant shall
  not be valid unless countersigned by the Warrant Agent.
    IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  CHECKERS  DRIVE-IN  RESTAURANTS,  INC. has caused the
facsimile  signature of its  President to be printed  heron and the facsimile of
its  corporate  seal to be printed hereon and attested by imprinting  hereon the
facsimile signature of its Secretary.

Countersigned:

CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C. 
As Warrant Agent



(Corporate Seal)


CHECKERS DRIVE-IN RESTAURANTS, INC.


By

/s/ Richard E. Fortman
President



Attest:


/s/ James T. Holder
Secretary




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