Form 8-K

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): November 27, 2017

 

 

VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   1-7598   94-2359345

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

  

(Commission

File Number)

  

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

3100 Hansen Way, Palo Alto, CA, 94304-1030

(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including zip code)

(650) 493-4000

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Not Applicable

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

  ☐ Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

  ☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

  ☐ Pre-commencement communication pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

  ☐ Pre-commencement communication pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

 

 

 

Item 8.01 Other Events.

The following “Description of Common Stock” is filed for the purpose of updating the description of the common stock of Varian Medical Systems, Inc. (“we,” “our,” “us,” or the “Company”). This “Description of Common Stock” modifies and supersedes any prior description of our common stock in any registration statement or report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and will be available for incorporation by reference into certain of the Company’s filings with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and forms promulgated thereunder.

This summary does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by express reference to, the applicable provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, our bylaws, as amended, and Delaware General Corporation Law (“Delaware Law”).

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

Our authorized capital stock consists of 189,000,000 shares of common stock with a par value of $1.00 per share. Each holder of our common stock is entitled to one vote for each share on all matters to be voted upon by the stockholders and there are no cumulative rights. Subject to any preferential rights of any outstanding preferred stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably the dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by the board of directors out of funds legally available therefor. If there is a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company, holders of our common stock would be entitled to share in our assets remaining after the payment of liabilities and any preferential rights of any outstanding preferred stock.

Holders of our common stock have no preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights, and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. The outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and non-assessable. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of our common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future.

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “VAR.” The transfer agent and registrar for the common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A. Its address is P.O. Box 505000, Louisville, Kentucky 40233, and its telephone number is (800) 756-8200.

Effect of Certain Provisions of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and the Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute

Some provisions of Delaware law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions that could make the following transactions more difficult:

 

  •   acquisition of us by means of a tender offer;

 

  •   acquisition of us by means of a proxy contest or otherwise; or

 

  •   removal of our incumbent officers and directors.

Those provisions, summarized below, are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and to promote stability in our management. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors.

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our bylaws provide for the following:

 

  •   Undesignated Preferred Stock. The ability to authorize undesignated preferred stock makes it possible for our board of directors to issue one or more series of preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences that could impede the success of any attempt to change control of our company. These and other provisions may have the effect of deferring hostile takeovers or delaying changes in control or management of our company.

 

  •   Stockholder Meetings. Our charter documents provide that a special meeting of stockholders may be called by the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, or in the absence of each of them, by the Vice Chairman of the Board, or by the Secretary at the written request of a majority of the directors.

  •   Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals. Our bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of the board of directors or a committee of the board of directors.

 

  •   Exclusive Forum Selection. Our bylaws provide that the sole and exclusive forum for certain actions or proceedings involving us shall be the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware. These certain actions or proceedings include derivative actions, actions claiming breach of fiduciary duty, actions involving the Delaware General Corporation Law or our organizational documents, and actions involving the internal affairs legal doctrine.

Signature(s)

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

    Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
Date: November 27, 2017     By:  

/s/ John W. Kuo

      John W. Kuo
      Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary