SHONEYS INC
S-8, 1996-09-11
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                 As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
                                 on September 10, 1996
                         Registration No. 333-_______________
______________________________________________________________________________

                          SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549
                                    _______________

                                       FORM S-8
                                REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                         UNDER
                              THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                    _______________

                                    SHONEY'S, INC.
                (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

       TENNESSEE                                        62-0799798    
(State or other jurisdiction                         (IRS employer
    of incorporation                               identification no.)


                                  1727 Elm Hill Pike
                              Nashville, Tennessee 37210
                  (Address of Principal Executive Offices)(Zip Code)


                         SHONEY'S, INC. 1981 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                               (Full title of the plan)



                                                         Copy to:
W. Craig Barber                                    Cynthia W. Young, Esq.
Shoney's, Inc.                                     Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs
1727 Elm Hill Pike                                 2800 Citizens Plaza
Nashville, Tennessee 37210                         500 West Jefferson Street
(615) 231-2385                                     Louisville, Kentucky 40202
                                                   (502) 562-7292

(Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                            CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

    Title of                    Amount               Proposed maximum          Proposed maximum            Amount of
   securities                    to be                offering price          aggregate offering         registration
to be registered              registered               per share<F1>              price<F1>                 fee
<S>                         <C>                      <C>                       <C>                      <C>
Common Stock, $1.00 par      5,000,000<F2>             $9.625               $48,125,000             $16,594.83
value per share and             shares
associated rights
</TABLE>


<F1>   Estimated solely  for  the  purpose  of  computing the registration fee
       pursuant to Rule 457(h), on the basis of the average of the high and low
       prices of the Registrant's Common Stock as  listed on the New York Stock
       Exchange one business day prior to the filing  hereof with respect to
       the shares being registered.

<F2>   The  Registrant  also  registers  hereby such indeterminate  number  of
       additional shares of the Registrant's Common Stock as may be required to
       cover  antidilutive adjustments under  the  Shoney's,  Inc.  1981  Stock
       Option Plan.

                                                25 sequentially numbered pages.
                                                       Exhibit index on page 9.
<PAGE>		2
                                    PART II

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

            Shoney's, Inc., a Tennessee corporation, ("the Registrant")  hereby
incorporates the following documents in this Registration Statement:

      A.    The  Registrant's  Annual  Report  on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended October 29, 1995, filed with the Commission  on January 29, 1996, and the
amendment thereto on Form 10-K/A, as filed with the  Commission on February 23,
1996;

      B.    The  Registrant's  Current  Report  on  Form  8-K  filed  with  the
Commission on March 20, 1996;

      C.    The  Registrant's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q  for  the  fiscal
quarter ended February 18, 1996, filed with the Commission on April 13, 1996;

      D.    The  Registrant's  Current  Report  on  Form  8-K  filed  with  the
Commission on May 15, 1996;

      E.    The Registrant's Quarterly Report  on  Form  10-Q  for  the  fiscal
quarter ended May 12, 1996, as filed with the Commission on June 25, 1996;

      F.    The description  of  the Registrant's common stock, par value $1.00
per share, that is contained in the Registrant's registration statement on Form
10 filed under the Exchange Act with  the  Commission  on  February  27,  1970,
including  any  amendment  or  report  filed  for  the purpose of updating such
description; and

      G.    The description of the Registrant's Rights to Purchase Common Stock
that is contained in the Registrant's registration statement  on Form 8-A filed
under the Exchange Act with the Commission, including any amendment  or  report
filed for the purpose of updating such description.

            All  documents  subsequently  filed  by  the Registrant pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934,
prior  to  the  filing  of  a post-effective amendment which indicates that all
securities offered have been  sold  or  which  deregisters  all securities then
remaining  unsold,  shall  be  deemed to be incorporated by reference  in  this
Registration Statement and to be  part  hereof  from the date of filing of such
documents.

ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

            Not applicable.

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS OF COUNSEL.

            Not applicable.

<PAGE>		3

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

      The Tennessee Business Corporation Act (the  "TBCA") and the Registrant's
bylaws each contains certain provisions that allow indemnification  of officers
and  directors  against certain liabilities, including those arising under  the
Securities Act.   Any  provision contained in the bylaws, in order to be valid,
must be consistent with  the TBCA.  Nevertheless, a corporation is empowered to
purchase and maintain insurance  on  behalf  of any officer or director against
any liability asserted against him, whether or  not  the corporation would have
had the power to indemnify such officer or director for such liability.

      Sections  48-18-501  to  -509  of  the  TBCA  provide  that  a  Tennessee
corporation shall have the power to indemnify against liability incurred by any
individual  made a party to a proceeding because the individual  is  or  was  a
director, provided  that  (i)  such person conducted himself or herself in good
faith, (ii) such person reasonably  believed (A) that in the case of conduct in
such person's official capacity with the corporation that such person's conduct
was in the corporation's best interest, and (B) in all other cases, that his or
her conduct was not opposed to the corporation's  best  interest,  and (iii) in
the  case  of  a  criminal  proceeding, such person had no reasonable cause  to
believe his or her conduct was  unlawful.  A director may not be indemnified as
described above for obligations resulting  from  a proceeding (i) in which such
person is found liable on the basis that he or she improperly received personal
benefit,  whether or not the benefit resulted from  an  action  taken  in  such
person's official capacity, or (ii) in which such person is found liable to the
corporation.

      A corporation  may  provide  indemnification as described above only if a
determination of indemnification is  made (a) by a majority vote of a quorum of
directors who at the time of voting are  not parties to such proceeding; (b) if
such a quorum cannot be obtained, by majority vote of a committee of directors,
consisting solely of two or more directors  who  are not at the time parties to
the relevant proceeding, designated to act in the  matter  by a majority of all
directors;  (c)  by  independent special legal counsel selected  by  the  board
acting as described in (a), or a committee established as described in (b), or,
if such quorum cannot  be  obtained and such committee is not established, by a
majority vote of all directors  (in  which  selection directors who are parties
may participate); or (d) by the shareholders  of  the  corporation  in  a  vote
excluding  shares  owned  by or voted under the control of directors who are at
the  time  parties  to  the proceeding.   On  receipt  of  an  application  for
indemnification, a court  may  order  indemnification  although  certain of the
above  conditions are not met if such court determines the director  is  fairly
and reasonably  entitled  to  indemnification  in  view  of  all  the  relevant
circumstances,  but if the director was adjudged liable as described in Section
48-18-502(d), his  or   her  indemnification  is limited to reasonable expenses
incurred.

      Unless a corporation's charter provides otherwise  (i)  an officer of the
corporation  who  is  not  a  director is entitled to mandatory indemnification
under  Section  48-18-503,  and  is   entitled   to   apply  for  court-ordered
indemnification under Section 48-18-505, in each case to  the  same extent as a
director;  (ii) the corporation may indemnify and advance expenses  under  this
part to an officer,  employee or agent of the corporation who is not a director
to the same extent as  a director; and (iii) the corporation may also indemnify
and advance expenses to  an officer, employee or agent who is not a director to
the extent, consistent with public policy, that may be provided by its charter,
bylaws, general or specific action of its board of directors, or contract.

      Unless limited by its  charter,  a  corporation must indemnify a director
who was wholly successful, on the merits or  otherwise,  in  the defense of any
proceeding  to  which  he  or  she was a party because he or she is  or  was  a
director of the corporation against reasonable expenses incurred by such person
in connection with the proceeding.

      The  Registrant  carries  directors   and  officers  liability  insurance
policies.  Section 48-18-508 of the TBCA permits  the  purchase and maintenance
of insurance on behalf of directors and officers against any

<PAGE>		4

liability  asserted  against  them  and incurred by them in  that  capacity  or
arising  from  their  status as directors  or  officers,  whether  or  not  the
corporation itself would  have  the  power  to  indemnify  any such director or
officer against the same liability under Sections 48-18-502 or 48-18-503.

      Section  12  of the charter of the Registrant eliminates  or  limits  the
liability for monetary  damages  of  the  Registrant's  directors for an act or
omission in the director's capacity as a director except  for liability (i) for
any  breach  of  the  director's  duty  of  loyalty  to the Registrant  or  its
shareholders,  (ii)  for acts or omissions not in good faith  or  that  involve
intentional misconduct  or  a  knowing violation of law, or (iii) under Section
48-18-304 for certain unlawful distributions.   The effect of this provision is
to  eliminate  the  rights  of  the  Registrant and its  shareholders  (through
shareholders' derivative suits on behalf of the Registrant) to recover monetary
damages against a director for acts or  omissions  in  his or her capacity as a
director  (including  breaches of fiduciary duty resulting  from  negligent  or
grossly negligent business decisions) except in the situations described in (i)
through (iii) of the preceding  sentence.   Any  subsequent changes to the TBCA
authorizing adoption of this provision will be automatically  incorporated into
this provision.

      Article  IX  of  the  Registrant's  bylaws provides that every  director,
officer or employee of the Registrant shall be indemnified against all expenses
and liabilities, including attorneys' fees,  reasonably  incurred by or imposed
upon him or her in connection with any proceeding in which  such  person may be
made a party, or in which such person may become involved by reason  of  his or
her being or having been a director, officer or employee of the Registrant,  or
any settlement thereof.  Indemnification is allowed only in situations in which
the director, officer or employee acted in good faith for a purpose which he or
she  reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the Registrant, and, in
a criminal  proceeding,  had  no  reasonable  cause  to believe that his or her
conduct  was  unlawful.   In  the  event  of  a settlement, indemnification  is
provided  only  when the Board approves such settlement  and  reimbursement  as
being in the best  interest  of  the  Registrant.  The right of indemnification
contained in the Registrant's bylaws is in addition to and not exclusive of any
other rights of indemnification to which  such directors, officers or employees
may be entitled.

      Insofar as indemnification for liabilities  arising  under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons  controlling the
Registrant  pursuant  to  the  foregoing  provisions,  the Registrant has  been
informed  that,  in  the  opinion  of  the Commission, such indemnification  is
against  public  policy as expressed in the  Securities  Act  of  1933  and  is
therefore unenforceable.

ITEM 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

            Not applicable.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.

            The exhibits listed on the Exhibit Index attached at page 9 of this
Registration Statement are incorporated by reference herein.

<PAGE>		5

ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS.

      1. The Registrant hereby undertakes:

            A.  To  file,  during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

            [1]  To include  any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
      Securities Act of 1933;

            [2]  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
      the effective date of the  Registration  Statement  (or  the  most recent
      post-effective   amendment   thereof)   which,  individually  or  in  the
      aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in
      the Registration Statement; and

            [3]  To include any material information  with  respect to the plan
      of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or
      any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;

      PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that paragraphs 1.A[1] and 1.A[2] do  not apply if the
information  required  to  be included in a post-effective amendment  by  those
paragraphs is contained in periodic  reports  filed  with  or  furnished to the
Commission  by  the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d)  of  the
Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

            B.  That,  for  the  purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such  post-effective  amendment shall be deemed to
be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and
the offering of such securities at that time shall be  deemed to be the initial
bona fide offering thereof.

            C.   To  remove  from  registration  by means of  a  post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which  remain  unsold  at  the
termination of the offering.

      2.   The  Registrant  hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining
any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant's
annual report pursuant to Section  13(a)  or  Section  15(d)  of the Securities
Exchange  Act  of  1934 that is incorporated by reference in this  Registration
Statement shall be deemed  to  be  a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered herein, and the offering  of  such  securities  at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

      3.    Insofar  as  indemnification  for  liabilities  arising  under  the
Securities Act  of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the Registrant,  the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion
of  the Securities and Exchange  Commission  such  indemnification  is  against
public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the
event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the
payment  by  the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer
or controlling  person  of  the  Registrant  in  the  successful defense of any
action,  suit  or  proceeding)  is  asserted  by  such  director,   officer  or
controlling  person  in  connection  with the securities being registered,  the
Registrant will, unless in the opinion  of  its  counsel  the  matter  has been
settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction
the question of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy  as
expressed  in  the  Act  and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.

<PAGE>		6
                                  SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements  of  the  Securities  Act  of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that  it  meets  all of the
requirements  for  filing  on  Form  S-8  and has duly caused this Registration
Statement  to  be  signed  on  its behalf by the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized, in the City of Nashville, State of Tennessee, on September 10, 1996.

                                       SHONEY'S, INC.



                                       By: /S/ C. STEPHEN LYNN

                                                 C. Stephen Lynn

                                       Title: Chairman of the Board, President
                                                   and Chief Executive Officer


<PAGE>		7

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that each person whose  signature  appears below
hereby  severally constitutes and appoints C. Stephen Lynn and W. Craig  Barber
and each  of them, his true and  lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full
power of substitution  and  resubstitution,  for him and in his name, place and
stead,  in  any and all capacities to sign any and  all  amendments  (including
post-effective  amendments)  to  this  Registration Statement and all documents
relating  thereto and to file the same with  all  exhibits  thereto  and  other
documents in  connection  therewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission
and each state securities regulatory  authority,  granting unto said attorneys-
in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and  perform  each  and every
act  and  thing necessary or advisable to be done in and about the premises  as
fully to all  intents  and  purposes  as  he might or could do in person hereby
ratifying  and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact  and  agents  or  his
substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


Pursuant to  the  requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration
Statement has been  signed below by the following persons in the capacities and
on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
      SIGNATURE                     CAPACITY                     DATE
<S>				<C>				<C>

/S/ C. STEPHEN LYNN           Chairman of the Board, President, September 9, 1996
C. Stephen Lynn               Chief Executive Officer and Director


/S/ W. CRAIG BARBER           Senior Executive Vice PresidentSeptember 9, 1996
W. Craig Barber               and Chief Financial Officer


/S/ ROBERT M. LANGFORD        Executive Vice President,     September 9, 1996
Robert M. Langford            General Counsel and Secretary


/S/ F.E. MCDANIEL, JR.        Vice President and Treasurer  September 9, 1996
F.E. McDaniel, Jr.


/S/ GREGORY A. HAYES          Vice President and Controller September 9, 1996
Gregory A. Hayes


/S/ DENNIS C. BOTTORFF        Director                      September 9, 1996
Dennis C. Bottorff


/S/ CAROLE F. HOOVER          Director                      September 9, 1996
Carole F. Hoover


/S/ VICTORIA B. JACKSON       Director                      September 9, 1996
Victoria B. Jackson

<PAGE>		8


/S/ JEFFRY F. SCHOENBAUM      Director                      September 9, 1996
Jeffry F. Schoenbaum


/S/ B. FRANKLIN SKINNER       Director                      September 9, 1996
B. Franklin Skinner


/S/ CAL TURNER, JR.           Director                      September 9, 1996
Cal Turner, Jr.

</TABLE>

<PAGE>		9
                                SHONEY'S, INC.

                                   FORM S-8
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT

                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT                                                                                     Sequentially
                                                                                                Numbered
                                                                                                    PAGE
<S>                             <C>                                                     <C>
4.1                             Restated charter of Shoney's, Inc., as amended.                       10
4.2                             Amended and Restated Bylaws of Shoney's Inc. filed as
                                Exhibits 3(ii) and 4.2 to the Registrant's Quarterly
                                Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended February 18,
                                1996 and incorporated herein by this reference.
4.3                             Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of May
                                25, 1994, between Shoney's, Inc. and Harris Trust and
                                Savings Bank, as Rights Agent, filed as Exhibit 4 to
                                the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with
                                the Commission on June 9, 1994 and incorporated herein
                                by this reference.
4.4                             Amendment No. 1 dated as of April 18, 1995 to Amended
                                and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of May 25,
                                1994, between Shoney's Inc. and Harris Trust and
                                Savings Bank, as Rights Agent, filed as Exhibit 4 to
                                the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with
                                the Commission on May 4, 1995, and incorporated herein
                                by this reference.
4.5                             Amendment No. 2 dated as of June 14, 1996 to Amended
                                and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of May 25,
                                1994, between Shoney's, Inc. and Harris Trust and
                                Savings Bank, as Rights Agent, filed as Exhibit 4.5 to
                                the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
                                quarter ended May 12, 1996, filed with the Commission
                                on June 25, 1996, and incorporated herein by this
                                reference.
5                               Opinion of Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs                                     23
23.1                            Consent of Ernst & Young LLP                                          25
23.2                            Consent of Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs (included in Exhibit                23
                                5)
24                              Power of Attorney (included in signature page to this                  7
                                registration statement).

</TABLE>

<PAGE>		10



                                                      EXHIBIT 4.1

                         RESTATED CHARTER

                                OF

                          SHONEY'S, INC.

 Under Section 48-20-107 of the Tennessee Business Corporation Act


     Pursuant to the  provisions  of  Section  48-20-107  of  the Tennessee

Business Corporation Act, the undersigned corporation adopts the  following

Restated Charter:

     1.   NAME.  The name of this corporation is SHONEY'S, INC.

     2.   DURATION.   The  time  of existence of this corporation shall  be

perpetual.

     3.   ADDRESS  OF  REGISTERED OFFICE,  NAME  OF  REGISTERED  AGENT  AND

ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL OFFICE.   The  address of the registered office of the

corporation is 1727 Elm Hill Pike, Nashville,  Tennessee   37210, County of

Davidson, and the name of the corporation's registered agent at that office

is  Jess  S.  Shearin.   The  address  of  the  principal  office  of  this

corporation  in  the  state  of Tennessee is 1727 Elm Hill Pike, Nashville,

Tennessee  37210, County of Davidson.

     4.   PROFIT.  The corporation is for profit.

     5.   BUSINESS.  The purpose  or  purposes for which the corporation is

organized are:

     The  general nature of the business  to  be  transacted  by  this
     corporation  is  to  own,  conduct, operate, manage, maintain and
     carry on, or license a general restaurant and/or cafeteria or any
     other type of food dispensing business at such place or places as
     may be determined by the Board  of Directors of this corporation;
     to buy, sell, lease or otherwise  dispose  of,  and  to  operate,
     conduct,  furnish,  equip  stores,  markets,  restaurants, cafes,
     cafeterias or other places of eating or food sales or

<PAGE)		11

     food  service;  to  buy,  or  otherwise acquire, manufacture,  market,
     prepare for market, sell, deal  in  and  deal with, import and export,
     food and food products of every kind and description,  fresh,  canned,
     preserved or otherwise, and other preparations and refreshments of all
     kinds; to own and/or operate hotels, motels, or other types of lodging
     accommodations;  to  buy, sell, lease, encumber, real property; to  do
     each  and  everything  necessary,   suitable   and   proper   for  the
     accomplishment of any of the purposes or the attainment of any  one or
     more  of  the  objects  herein  enumerated, or which shall at any time
     appear conducive to or expedient for the protection or benefit of this
     corporation.

     6.   STOCK.  The maximum number of  shares  that the corporation shall

have the authority to issue is one hundred million     (100,000,000) shares

of  common stock with a par value of One Dollar ($1.00) each,  which  shall

have  the  right  to  receive  the  net  assets  of  the  corporation  upon

dissolution.

     7.   INITIAL   CAPITAL.    The  amount  of  capital  with  which  this

corporation  will  begin business shall  be  not  less  than  Five  Hundred

Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00);  and  when  such amount so fixed shall have

been subscribed for, all subscriptions of the  stock  of  this  corporation

shall  be enforceable and it may proceed to do business in the same  manner

and as fully  as  though  the maximum number of shares authorized under the

provisions of the preceding section hereof shall have been subscribed for.

     8.   NO PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS.   No holder of shares of any class of stock

of the corporation shall have any preemptive right to purchase or otherwise

acquire any shares of stock of any class of the corporation, or any options

or rights to purchase shares of any  class  or  any other securities of the

corporation convertible into or carrying an option  to  purchase  shares of

any  class, whether now 

<PAGE>		12

or hereafter authorized; and the Board of Directors of the corporation

may  authorize the issuance of shares of stock of any class of  the

corporation, or  options  or  rights to purchase shares of any class, or

any securities convertible into  or carrying an option to purchase shares

of any class without offering such issue of shares, rights, options or other

securities, either in whole or in part, to any shareholders of the corporation.

     9.   ACTION BY CONSENT.  Whenever the Directors of the corporation are

required or permitted to take any action  by vote, such action may be taken

without a meeting on written consent, setting  forth  the  action so taken,

signed by all of the Directors entitled to vote thereon.

     10.  BY-LAWS.   The Board of Directors of the corporation  may  adopt,

amend, or repeal the by-laws  or  any by-law of the corporation by the vote

of a majority of the members of the  entire Board.11.BUSINESS COMBINATIONS.

(a)  DEFINITIONS.  For purposes of this paragraph 11:

          (1)  AFFILIATE.  An "affiliate"  of,  or  a  person  "affiliated"

with, a specified person, is a person that directly, or indirectly  through

one  or  more  intermediaries,  controls,  or is controlled by, or is under

common control with, the person specified.

          (2)  ASSOCIATE.   The  term  "associate"   used   to  indicate  a

relationship with any person, means:  (i)  any corporation or  organization

(other than this corporation or a Subsidiary thereof) of which such  person

is  an  officer  or  partner  or is, directly or 

<PAGE>	13

indirectly, the beneficial owner of 10 percent or more of any class

of equity securities; (ii) any  trust  or other estate in which such person

has a substantial beneficial interest or  as to which such person serves as

trustee  or in a similar fiduciary capacity;  and  (iii)  any  relative  or

spouse of  such  person,  or  any relative of such spouse, who has the same

home as such person.

          (3)  BENEFICIAL OWNER.  A person shall be a "beneficial owner" of

any Capital Stock:  (i) which such  person  or  any  of  its  Affiliates or

Associates  beneficially  owns  directly or indirectly; or (ii) which  such

person or any of its Affiliates or  Associates has, directly or indirectly:

(A) the right to acquire (whether such  right is exercisable immediately or

subject  only  to  the  passage  of  time),  pursuant   to  any  agreement,

arrangement  or  understanding  or upon the exercise of conversion  rights,

exchange rights, warrants or options,  or  otherwise;  or  (B) the right to

vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding;  or (C) which

are  beneficially  owned, directly or indirectly, by any other person  with

which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has any agreement,

arrangement or understanding  for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting

or  disposing  of  any  shares  of Capital  Stock.   For  the  purposes  of

determining whether a person is an  Interested  Stockholder,  the number of

shares  of  Capital  Stock  deemed  to be outstanding shall include  shares

deemed  beneficially  owned  by such person  through  application  of  this

paragraph 11(a)(3) but shall not  include any other shares of Capital Stock

that   may  be  issuable  pursuant  to  any   agreement,   arrangement   or

understanding,

<PAGE>		14

or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.

          (4)  "BUSINESS  COMBINATION"  shall  mean:   (i)  any  merger  or

consolidation  of  this  Corporation  or  any  Subsidiary  (as  hereinafter

defined)  with (A) any Interested Stockholder or, (B) any other corporation

(whether or  not  itself an Interested Stockholder) which is, or after such

merger  or  consolidation  would  be,  an  Affiliate  or  Associate  of  an

Interested Stockholder;  or  (ii)  any  sale,  lease,  exchange,  mortgage,

pledge,  transfer  or other disposition (in one transaction or a series  of

transactions)  with  any   Interested  Stockholder,  or  any  Affiliate  or

Associate of any Interested Stockholder, involving any assets or securities

of this corporation, any Subsidiary  or  any Interested Stockholder, or any

Affiliate or Associate of any Interested Stockholder,  having  an aggregate

Fair Market Value of $25,000,000 or more; or (iii) the adoption of any plan

or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of this corporation proposed

by or on behalf of an Interested Stockholder or any Affiliate or  Associate

of  any  Interested Stockholder; or (iv) any reclassification of securities

(including   any   reverse   stock  split),  or  recapitalization  of  this

corporation, or any merger or consolidation of this corporation with any of

its Subsidiaries or any other transaction (whether or not with or otherwise

involving an Interested Stockholder)  that  has  the  effect,  directly  or

indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of any class or series of

Capital  Stock,  or  any  securities convertible into Capital Stock or into

equity securities of any Subsidiary,

<PAGE>		15

that is beneficially owned  by  any Interested Stockholder or any Affiliate

or Associate of any Interested Stockholder;  or (v) any agreement, contract

or other arrangement providing for any one or more of the actions specified

in the foregoing clauses (i) to (iv).

          (5)  CAPITAL  STOCK.  The term "Capital  Stock"  shall  mean  all

capital stock of this corporation  as  may  be authorized to be issued from

time to time under paragraph 6 of this charter.

          (6)  "CONTINUING DIRECTOR" shall mean  any member of the Board of

Directors of this corporation (the "Board"), while  such person is a member

of the Board, who is not an Affiliate or Associate or representative of the

Interested Stockholder and was a member of the Board prior to the time that

the  Interested  Stockholder  became  an  Interested  Stockholder  and  any

successor of a Continuing Director, while such successor is a member of the

Board,  who  is  not  an  Affiliate or Associate or representative  of  the

Interested  Stockholder and  is  recommended  or  elected  to  succeed  the

Continuing Director by a majority of Continuing Directors.

          (7)  "FAIR MARKET VALUE" shall mean: (i) in the case of cash, the

amount of such  cash;  (ii)  in the case of stock, the highest closing sale

price during the 30-day period  immediately  preceding the date in question

of a share of such stock on the Composite Tape for New York Stock Exchange-

Listed Stocks, or, if such stock is not quoted  on  the  Composite Tape, on

the  New  York  Stock  Exchange,  or, if such stock is not listed  on  such

Exchange,  on the principal United States  securities  exchange  registered

under the Act on which such stock is listed, or, if such stock is not

<PAGE>		16

listed on any such exchange, the highest closing bid quotation with respect

to a share of  such  stock  during  the 30-day period preceding the date in

question on the National Association  of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated

Quotations  System  or any similar system  then  in  use,  or  if  no  such

quotations are available,  the fair market value on the date in question of

a  share  of such stock as determined  by  a  majority  of  the  Continuing

Directors in  good faith; and (iii) in the case of property other than cash

or stock, the fair market value of such property on the date in question as

determined in good faith by a majority of the Continuing Directors.

          (8)  "INTERESTED  STOCKHOLDER"  shall mean any person (other than

this  corporation,  or any Subsidiary, and other  than  any  profit-sharing

employee stock ownership or other employee benefit plan established by this

corporation or by any  Subsidiary,  or  any  trustee  of, or fiduciary with

respect to, any such plan when acting in such capacity)  who:  (i)  is  the

beneficial  owner of Voting Stock representing ten percent (10%) or more of

the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of all then outstanding shares

of Voting Stock;  or  (ii) is an Affiliate or Associate of this corporation

and at any time within the two-year period immediately prior to the date in

question was the beneficial  owner of Voting Stock representing ten percent

(10%) or more of the votes entitled  to  be cast by the holders of all then

outstanding shares of Voting Stock.

          (9)  PERSON.  The term "person"  shall mean any individual, firm,

corporation or other entity and shall include  any  group  comprised of any

person and any other person with whom such person

<PAGE>		17

or any Affiliate or Associate of such person has any agreement, arrangement

or  understanding,  directly  or indirectly, for the purpose of  acquiring,

holding, voting or disposing of Capital Stock.

          (10) "SUBSIDIARY" shall  mean any corporation of which a majority

of any class of equity security is beneficially  owned by this corporation;

provided,  however, that for the purposes of the definition  of  Interested

Stockholder, the term "Subsidiary" shall mean only a corporation of which a

majority of  each  class  of  equity security is beneficially owned by this

corporation.

          (11) "VOTING STOCK" shall  mean  all  Capital  Stock  that by its

terms  may  be  voted  on  all  matters  submitted  to shareholders of this

corporation generally.

     (b)  EIGHTY  PERCENT  VOTE.   In  addition  to  any  affirmative  vote

required  by  law,  this  charter or the by-laws of this corporation,  and,

except  as  otherwise  expressly  provided  in  Subparagraph  (c)  of  this

paragraph 11, a Business  Combination shall require the affirmative vote of

not less than eighty percent  (80%) of the votes entitled to be cast by the

holders of all then outstanding  shares of Voting Stock, voting together as

a single class.  Such affirmative  vote  shall  be required notwithstanding

the  fact  that  no vote may be required, or that a  lesser  percentage  or

separate class vote  may  be specified, by law or in any agreement with any

national securities exchange or otherwise.

     (c)  VOTE  WITH  CONTINUING  DIRECTOR  APPROVAL.   The  provisions  of

Subparagraph (b) of this paragraph 11 shall not be applicable to

<PAGE>		18

any particular Business  Combination,  and  such Business Combination shall

require only such affirmative vote, if any, as is required by law or by any

other provision of this charter or the by-laws  of this corporation, or any

agreement  with  any  national  securities  exchange,   if   the   Business

Combination is approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors.

     (d)  DUTIES OF BOARD.  The Board of Directors shall have the power and

duty  to  determine for the purposes of this paragraph 11, on the basis  of

information known to them after reasonable inquiry:

          (1)  whether a person is an Interested Stockholder,

          (2)  the   number   of  shares  of  Capital  Stock  or  otherwise

               securities beneficially owned by any person,

          (3)  whether a person  is  an  Affiliate or Associate of another,

               and

          (4)  whether the assets that are  the  subject  of  any  Business

               Combination  have,  or the consideration to be received  for

               the issuance or transfer  of  securities by this corporation

               or  any  Subsidiary  in  any Business  Combination  has,  an

               aggregate Fair Market Value  of  $25,000,000  or  more.  Any

               such  determination made in good faith shall be binding  and

               conclusive on all parties.

     (e)  FIDUCIARY OBLIGATIONS.   Nothing  contained  in this paragraph 11

shall be construed to relieve any Interested Stockholder from any fiduciary

obligation imposed by law.

<PAGE>		19
		
     (f)  AMENDMENT OF PARAGRAPH 11.  Notwithstanding any  other provisions

of this charter or the by-laws of this corporation (and notwithstanding the

fact  that a lesser percentage or separate class vote may be  specified  by

law, this charter or the by-laws of this corporation), the affirmative vote

of the  holders of not less than eighty percent (80%) of the votes entitled

to be cast  by  the holders of all then outstanding shares of Voting Stock,

voting together as a single class, shall be required to make, alter, amend,

change, add to or  repeal  any  provisions inconsistent with this paragraph

11; provided, however, that this  Subparagraph  (f) shall not apply to, and

such eighty percent (80%) vote shall not be required  for,  any  amendment,

repeal  or  addition unanimously recommended by the Board if not less  than

three-fourths  of  those  directors  who  have  voted  in favor thereof are

persons who would be eligible to serve as Continuing Directors.

     12.  DIRECTOR LIABILITY.  A.  A director of the corporation  shall not

be  personally  liable  to the corporation or its shareholders for monetary

damages for breach of fiduciary  duty  as  a director, except for liability

(i) for any breach of the director's duty of  loyalty to the corporation or

its shareholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not  in  good  faith  or which

involve  intentional  misconduct  or  a  knowing violation of law, or (iii)

under Section 48-18-304 of the Tennessee Business  Corporation Act.  If the

Tennessee  Business  Corporation  Act  is  amended after  approval  by  the

shareholders  of  this  paragraph  12  to  allow corporate  action  further

eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then

<PAGE>		20

the  liability  of a director of the corporation  shall  be  eliminated  or

limited  to  the  fullest   extent  permitted  by  the  Tennessee  Business

Corporation Act, as so amended.

          B.   Any  repeal  or   modification   of  paragraph  12A  by  the

shareholders of the corporation shall not adversely  affect  any  right  or

protection  of  a  director of the corporation existing at the time of such

repeal or modification.

                            CERTIFICATE

     This Restated Charter  restates the text of the charter, as previously

amended,  without  making  any  further   amendment   or  change  requiring

shareholder  approval and was duly adopted at a meeting  of  the  Board  of

Directors on June 23, 1988.

     Dated, this 13th day of July, 1988.



                              SHONEY'S, INC.


                              By:  /S/ GARY P. SPOLETA
                                   Gary P. Spoleta, President
<PAGE>		21
                              CHANGE

                                OF

                         REGISTERED AGENT

                                OF

                          SHONEY'S, INC.

To the Secretary of State of the State of Tennessee:

     Pursuant  to  the  provisions  of  Section  48-15-102 of the Tennessee

Business Corporation Act, the undersigned domestic  corporation submits the

following  statement for the purpose of changing the registered  agent  for

the corporation in the state of Tennessee:

     1.   The name of the corporation is Shoney's, Inc.

     2.   The  address of the corporation is 1727 Elm Hill Pike, Nashville,

Tennessee 37210.

     3.   The name of the current registered agent is Jess S. Shearin.

     4.   The name  and street address of its registered agent in the state

of Tennessee shall be  F.  Ernie  McDaniel,  1727 Elm Hill Pike, Nashville,

Tennessee 37210.

     5.   After the changes, the street addresses  of the registered office

and the business office of the registered agent will be identical.

     Dated this 6th day of October, 1988.

                              SHONEY'S, INC.


                              By:  /S/ TAYLOR HENRY JR.
                              Title: Vice President - Finance
<PAGE>		22

               ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER
                                OF
                          SHONEY'S, INC.

     Pursuant  to  the  provisions of Section 48-20-106  of  the  Tennessee
Business Corporation Act,  the undersigned Corporation adopts the following
amendments to its Restated Charter:


1.   The name of the Corporation is:  Shoney's, Inc.

2.   Paragraph  6 of the Charter  is  deleted  in  its  entirety,  and  the
     following is added to the Charter as Paragraph 6:

          6.   STOCK.    The   maximum   number  of  shares  that  the
     corporation shall have the authority  to  issue  is  two  hundred
     million (200,000,000) shares of common stock with a par value  of
     One  Dollar  ($1.00)  each, which shall have the right to receive
     the net assets of the corporation upon dissolution.

3.   The amendments contained  in  these  Articles  of  Amendment were duly
     adopted  by  the  Corporation's  shareholders  at  a duly  called  and
     convened meeting held on August 21, 1996.

4.   These Articles of Amendment shall be effective upon  filing  with  the
     Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Tennessee.

     Dated:  August 23, 1996

                              SHONEY'S, INC.


                              By: /S/ ROBERT J. AMES

                              Name: Robert J. Ames

                              Title: Assistant Secretary







                   This Instrument Prepared By:
                      WYATT, TARRANT & COMBS
                    1500 Nashville City Center
                         511 Union Street
                     Nashville, TN 37219-1750

<PAGE>		23



                                                        EXHIBIT 5

                [Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs Letterhead]


                             September 9, 1996




Board of Directors
Shoney's, Inc.
1727 Elm Hill Pike
Nashville, TN  37210

Gentlemen:

     We  have  acted  as  counsel  to  Shoney's,  Inc.  (the "Company"), in
connection  with  the  registration  of  5,000,000 shares of the  Company's
common stock (the "Shares"), on the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the
"Registration Statement") being filed by the  Company  with  the Securities
and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933,  as amended
(the  "Act")  which  may be issued by the Company pursuant to the Shoney's,
Inc. 1981 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan").

     We have examined  and  are familiar with the Company, its organization
and  proceedings  related  thereto.   We  have  also  examined  such  other
documents and procedures as we have considered necessary for the purpose of
this opinion.

     Based upon the foregoing and subject to the qualifications hereinafter
set forth, we are of the opinion  that the Shares have been duly authorized
and, when issued and sold in accordance  with  the  Registration Statement,
the  prospectus  delivered  to  participants in the Plan  pursuant  to  the
requirements of the Act, the pertinent  provisions  of any applicable state
securities  laws  and  the  Plan, will be validly issued,  fully  paid  and
nonassessable.

     This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Tennessee
and the Federal laws of the United States of America, and we
express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than
those specified.

     Our opinion is directed to the Board of Directors of the
Company and may not be relied upon by any persons other than said
directors, recipients of the prospectus and participants in the
Plan.  We expressly disclaim any responsibility for advising you of
any change hereafter occurring in circumstances touching or
concerning the transaction which is the subject of this opinion,
including any changes in the law or in factual matters occurring
subsequent to the date of this opinion.


<PAGE>		24

     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion, or copies
thereof, as an Exhibit to the Registration Statement.  In giving
this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the
category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of
the Act or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission thereunder.

                         Sincerely,

                         WYATT, TARRANT & COMBS


                         /s/ WYATT, TARRANT & COMBS



                                                     Exhibit 23.1




       Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statement (Form S-8) and related Prospectus pertaining to the
Shoney's, Inc. 1981 Stock Option Plan of Shoney's, Inc. of our
report dated December 14, 1995, except for paragraphs 3 and 4 of
Note 13, as to which the date is January 2, 1996, with respect to
the consolidated financial statements and schedule of Shoney's, Inc.
included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended
October 29, 1995, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                           /s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Nashville, Tennessee
September 5, 1996





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