ACACIA RESEARCH CORP
SC 13D, 1997-09-22
INVESTMENT ADVICE
Previous: AMTRUST CAPITAL CORP, 10KSB, 1997-09-22
Next: CIENA CORP, 8-K/A, 1997-09-22



<PAGE>
 
                                 UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, DC  20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13D

                   UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                             (AMENDMENT _________)*

                          Acacia Research Corporation
                          ---------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)

                      Common Stock, no par value per share
                      ------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

 
                                 003881 10 9
                         -----------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)

                                David H. Schmidt
                                10 Juniper Road
                          Rowayton, Connecticut 06853
                                (203) 866-7161
                        ------------------------------
            (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized
                     to Receive Notices and Communications)

                                 July 6, 1997
                        -------------------------------
            (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report
the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this
schedule because of Rule 13d-1(b)(3) or (4), check the following box [ ].

Note: Six copies of this statement, including all exhibits, should be filed with
the Commission.  See Rule 13d-1(a) for other parties to whom copies are to be
sent.

*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 of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on 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).

                                                               Page 1 of 7 Pages
<PAGE>
 
                                  SCHEDULE 13D

Cusip No. 003881 10 9

1  Names of Reporting Persons
   I.R.S. Identification Nos. of Above Persons (entities only)

David H. Schmidt
- -------------------------------------------------------------------

2 Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See 
  Instructions)                                           (a) [   ]
                                                          (b) [   ] 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------

3 SEC Use Only


- ------------------------------------------------------------------

4 Source of Funds (See Instructions)

OO
- -------------------------------------------------------------------

5 Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings is Required Pursuant to    
  Items 2(d) or 2(e)                                          [  ]

- -------------------------------------------------------------------

6 Citizenship or Place of Organization

United States
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of        (7)  Sole Voting Power         210,000 shares of
Shares                                          common stock      
Bene-            
ficially         (8)  Shared Voting Power       Not applicable     
Owned by                                                          
Each             (9)  Sole Dispositive Power    210,000 shares of 
Reporting                                       common stock      
Person                                                            
With            (10) Shared Dispositive Power   Not applicable     
              
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
11 Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each
   Reporting Person

210,000 shares of common stock
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
12 Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain 
   Shares (See Instructions)                                  [   ]

                                                               Page 2 of 7 Pages
<PAGE>
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
13 Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11)

   7.4%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
14 Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

IN

                                                               Page 3 of 7 Pages
<PAGE>
 
Item 1.  Security and Issuer.

     This Schedule 13D report relates to the common stock, with no par value per
share (the "Shares"), of Acacia Research Corporation (the "Issuer").  The
principal executive offices of the Issuer are located at 12 South Raymond
Avenue, Pasadena, California  91105.


Item 2.  Identity and Background.

     This statement is filed by David H. Schmidt. Mr. Schmidt's address is 10
Juniper Road, Rowayton, Connecticut 06853.

     The present principal employment of Mr. Schmidt is as Vice President and
Director of Technology of Soundview Technologies Incorporated ("Soundview")
located at Two Soundview Drive, Greenwich, Connecticut 06830. The principal
business of Soundview is the development of technology related to the
telecommunications field, which includes audio and video blanking systems, also
known as V-chip technology, and the pursuit of business opportunities to
commercialize its technology.

     During the last five years, Mr. Schmidt has not been convicted in a
criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors) and
has not been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body
of competent jurisdiction resulting in Mr. Schmidt being subject to a judgment,
decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or
mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any
violation with respect to such laws.

     Mr. Schmidt is a citizen of the United States.


Item 3.    Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.

     Pursuant to a Common Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 6, 1997, by
and among the Issuer, David H. Schmidt and H. Lee Browne (the "Purchase
Agreement"), Mr. Schmidt acquired 200,000 Shares on July 6, 1997, in exchange
for the sale by Mr. Schmidt of 1,312,500 shares of common stock of Soundview
(the "Soundview Shares") to the Issuer.  In addition to the 200,000 Shares, Mr.
Schmidt also received from the Issuer as payment for the Soundview Shares
$250,000 in cash and a non-recourse promissory note in the amount of $450,000.

Item 4.    Purpose of Transaction.

     Mr. Schmidt acquired the 200,000 Shares for investment purposes.  Depending
on market conditions, his continuing evaluation of the business and prospects of
the Issuer and other factors, Mr. Schmidt may dispose of or acquire additional
Shares in the open market.  In accordance with the terms of the Registration
Statement, the Issuer filed a Form S-3 Registration Statement (the

                                                               Page 4 of 7 Pages
<PAGE>
 
"Registration Statement") with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which
Registration Statement became effective on August 26, 1997, relating to the re-
sale by Messrs. Browne and Schmidt of an aggregate of 400,000 Shares.  The
Purchase Agreement also provides to each of Messrs. Browne and Schmidt certain
"piggy-back" registration rights (to be set forth in a separate agreement
presently under negotiation) in the event that any sale or distribution of the
Shares by Messrs. Browne and Schmidt pursuant to the Registration Statement is
restricted due to the commencement of an underwritten public distribution of
Shares under a separate registration statement.  Except as set forth above, Mr.
Schmidt does not have any present plans which relate to or would result in:

         (a)   The acquisition by any person of additional  securities of the
               Issuer, or the disposition of securities of the Issuer;

         (b)   An  extraordinary  corporate  transaction,  such as a merger,
               reorganization or liquidation, involving the Issuer or any of its
               subsidiaries;

         (c)   A sale or  transfer of a material amount of assets of the Issuer
               or any of its subsidiaries;

         (d)   Any change in the present board of directors or management of the
               Issuer, including any plans or  proposals to change the number or
               term of directors or to fill any existing vacancies on the board;

         (e)   Any material change in the present capitalization or dividend
               policy of the Issuer;

         (f)   Any other material change in the Issuer's business or corporate
               structure;

         (g)   Changes in the Issuer's charter, bylaws or instruments
               corresponding thereto or other  actions  which may impede the
               acquisition of control of the Issuer by any person;

         (h)   Causing a class of securities of the Issuer to be  delisted from
               a national securities exchange or to  cease to be authorized to
               be quoted in an inter-dealer quotation system of a registered
               national securities association;

         (i)   A class of equity  securities of the Issuer becoming eligible for
               termination of registration  pursuant to Section 12(g)(4) of the
               Securities Exchange Act of 1934; or

         (j)   Any action similar to any of those enumerated above.

                                                               Page 5 of 7 Pages
<PAGE>
 
Item 5.    Interest in Securities of the Issuer.

(a)        The aggregate number of Shares beneficially owned by Mr. Schmidt is
210,000, or 7.4% of the number of Shares outstanding (based on there being
2,849,872 Shares outstanding as of September 3, 1997).

(b)        Mr. Schmidt has sole power to vote or to direct the vote and to
dispose or to direct the disposition of the 210,000 Shares beneficially owned by
him. No one has shared power to vote or to direct the vote or to dispose or to
direct the disposition of such Shares.
 
(c)        Since July 6, 1997, Mr. Schmidt has not effected any transaction in
the Shares .

(d)        No other person is known to have the right to receive or the power to
direct the receipt of dividends from, or any proceeds from the sale of, the
Shares beneficially owned by Mr. Schmidt.

(e)        Not Applicable.

Item 6.    Contracts, Arrangements, Undertakings or Relationships With Respect
to Securities of the Issuer.

     Other than the Purchase Agreement, there are no contracts, arrangements,
understanding or relationships (legal or otherwise) between Mr. Schmidt and any
person with respect to any securities of the Issuer.

Item 7.   Material to be Filed as Exhibits.

Exhibit A:     Common Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 6, 1997, among
               Acacia Research Corporation, H. Lee Browne and David H.
               Schmidt(1).



_________________________
(1)  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of Acacia Research Corporation's
     Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 21, 1997.


                           [Signature Page to Follow]

                                                               Page 6 of 7 Pages
<PAGE>
 
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.

Date:  September 18, 1997

                                /s/ David H. Schmidt
                                -------------------------------
                                David H. Schmidt

                                                               Page 7 of 7 Pages


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission