form8a12g.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 8-A
 
FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
Farmers & Merchants Bancorp
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 
Delaware
94-3327828
(State of Incorporation or Organization)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 
111 West Pine Street, Lodi, California 95240
(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
     
 
 
    
 

If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General Instruction A.(c), check the following box. o
 
If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General Instruction A.(d), check the following box. x
 
Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form relates:      Not applicable    (if applicable)
 
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
 
Preferred Stock Purchase Rights
(Title of Class)
 
 
 
 

Item 1.  Description of Registrant’s Securities to be Registered.
 
On August 5, 2008, the Board of Directors declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a “Right”) for each outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Shares”), of the Company.  The dividend is payable on August 15, 2008 to the stockholders of record on that date.  Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, no par value (the “Preferred Shares”), of the Company at a price of $1,200 per one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (the “Purchase Price”), subject to adjustment.  The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement dated as of August 5, 2008 (the “Rights Agreement”) between the Company and Registrar and Transfer Company, as Rights agent (the “Rights Agent”).
 
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all certificates representing Common Shares then outstanding and no separate Right Certificates will be distributed.  The Rights will separate from the Common Shares and a Distribution Date will occur upon the earlier of (i) 10 days following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons have acquired beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the outstanding Common Shares (an “Acquiring Person”); provided, however, a person or group holding 10% or more of the outstanding shares as of August 5, 2008 will become a “Grandfathered Person” and such Grandfathered Person will be treated as an Acquiring Person upon public announcement or knowledge by the Company’s Board of Directors that such Grandfathered Person has acquired beneficial ownership of an additional 5% of the outstanding Common Shares; or (ii) 10 business days (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person) following the commencement of, or announcement of an intention to make, a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in the beneficial ownership by a person or group of 10% or more of such outstanding Common Shares (unless the Company’s Board of Directors has approved the offer).
 
The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferred with and only with the Common Shares.  Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), new Common Share certificates issued after the Record Date, upon transfer or new issuance of Common Shares, will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference.  Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Shares outstanding as of the Record Date will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented by such certificate.  As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights (“Right Certificates”) will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Shares as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and such separate Right Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.
 
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date.  The Rights will expire on August 5, 2018 (the “Final Expiration Date”), unless the Rights are earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company, in each case as described below.
 
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred Shares or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Preferred Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Shares of certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares at a price, or securities convertible into Preferred Shares with a conversion price, less than the then current market price of the Preferred Shares or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Preferred Shares of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends paid out of earnings or retained earnings or dividends payable in Preferred Shares) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).
 
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The number of outstanding Rights and the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share issuable upon exercise of each Right are also subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split of the Common Shares or a stock dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or a subdivision, consolidation or combination of the Common Shares occurring, in any such case, prior to the Distribution Date.
 
Preferred Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be redeemable.  Each Preferred Share will be entitled to a minimum preferential dividend payment of 100 times the dividend declared per Common Share.  In the event of liquidation, the holders of the Preferred Shares will be entitled to a minimum preferential liquidation payment of $100.00 per share but will be entitled to an aggregate payment of 100 times the payment made per Common Share. Each Preferred Share will have 100 votes, voting together with the Common Shares.  Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which Common Shares are exchanged, each Preferred Share will be entitled to receive 100 times the amount received per Common Share.  These rights are protected by customary antidilution provisions.
 
Because of the nature of the Preferred Shares’ dividend, liquidation and voting rights, the value of the one one-hundredth interest in a Preferred Share purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the value of one Common Share.
 
In the event that (i) any person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person, or (ii) during such time as there is an Acquiring Person, there shall be a reclassification of securities or a recapitalization or reorganization of the Company or other transaction or series of transactions involving the Company which has the effect of increasing by more than 1% the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class of equity securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (each a “flip-in” event), proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right, other than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which will thereafter be void), will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise that number of Common Shares (or, in the event that there are insufficient authorized Common Shares, substitute consideration such as cash, property, or other securities of the Company, such as Preferred Stock) having a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right.  In the event that the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning power are sold (a “flip-over event”), proper provision will be made so that each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current exercise price of the Right, that number of shares of common stock of the acquiring company which at the time of such transaction will have a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right.
 
At any time after the acquisition by a person or group of affiliated or associated persons of beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the outstanding Common Shares and prior to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group which have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one Common Share, or one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (or of a share of a class or series of the Company’s preferred stock having equivalent rights, preferences and privileges), per Right (subject to adjustment).
 
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in such Purchase Price.  No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depository receipts) and in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the Preferred Shares on the last trading day prior to the date of exercise.

 
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At any time before a person becomes an Acquiring Person, the Board of Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.001 per Right (the “Redemption Price”).  After the redemption period has expired, the Company’s rights of redemption may be reinstated if, prior to completion of certain recapitalizations, mergers or other business combinations, an Acquiring Person reduces its beneficial ownership to less than 10% of the outstanding Common Shares in a transaction or series of transactions not involving the Company.  The redemption of the rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish.  Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.
 
The terms of the Rights may be amended by the Board of Directors of the Company without the consent of the holders of the Rights, except that from and after such time as any person becomes an Acquiring Person no such amendment may adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Rights.
 
Until a Right is exercised, the holder of a Right will not, by reason of being such a holder, have rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends.
 
Copies of the Rights Plan, form of Rights Certificate and Certificate of Designation for the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock are attached as exhibits to this registration statement and are incorporated herein by reference.
 
Item 2.  Exhibits.
 
Exhibit No.
Description
   
3.3
Certificate of Designation for the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (included as Exhibit A to the Rights Agreement between Farmers & Merchants Bancorp and Registrar and Transfer Company, dated as of August 5, 2008, filed as Exhibit 4.1 below).
   
4.1
Rights Agreement between Farmers & Merchants Bancorp and Registrar and Transfer Company, dated as of August 5, 2008, including Form of Right Certificate attached thereto as Exhibit B.

 
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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, thereunto duly authorized.
 
Date: August 8, 2008

 
FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
   
   
 
By:
/s/ Kent A. Steinwert
     
   
Kent A. Steinwert
   
President and Chief Executive Officer


Index to Exhibits
 
Exhibit No.
Description
   
3.3
Certificate of Designation for the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (included as Exhibit A to the Rights Agreement between Farmers & Merchants Bancorp and Registrar and Transfer Company, dated as of August 5, 2008, filed as Exhibit 4.1 below).
   
Rights Agreement between Farmers & Merchants Bancorp and Registrar and Transfer Company, dated as of August 5, 2008, including Form of Right Certificate attached thereto as Exhibit B.

 
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