SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 ------------------------------- FORM 8-A FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) or 12(g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 ------------------------------- DUSA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC -------------------------------------------------- (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter) New Jersey 22-3103129 --------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- (State of Incorporation or Organization) (I.R.S.Employer Identification No.) 25 Upton Drive, Wilmington, Massachusetts 01887 ----------------------------------------- ---------- (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) 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), please check the following box. [x] 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), please check the following box. [ ] Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form relates: N/A --------------- (If applicable) Title of each class Name of each exchange of which to be so registered each class is to be registered -------------------------------- ------------------------------ Preferred Stock Purchase Rights NASDAQ (Pursuant to Rights Agreement dated as of September 27, 2002) Securities to be registered pursuant to None Section 12(g) of the Act: ---------------- (Title of Class) ITEM 1. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED. On September 27, 2002, the Board of Directors of DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a New Jersey corporation (the "Company"), declared a dividend of distribution of one preferred stock purchase right (a "Right") for each outstanding share of Common Stock (the "Rights Dividend"). The Rights Dividend is payable on October 10, 2002 (the "Record Date") to shareholders of record at the close of business on the Record Date, and with respect to all shares of Common Stock that become outstanding after the Record Date and prior to the earliest of the Distribution Date (as defined below), the redemption of the Rights or the expiration of the Rights. As of September 27, 2002, the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding was 13,887,612. Except as set forth below and subject to adjustment as provided in the Rights Agreement (as defined below), each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth (1/1,000th) of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the "Series A Preferred Stock"), at an exercise price of $37.00 per Right (the "Purchase Price"). The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement dated as of September 27, 2002 (the "Rights Agreement"), between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent"). The Rights are issuable under, and subject to the terms and conditions of, Rights Agreement between the Company and the Rights Agent. The Rights will be evidenced by the Common Stock certificates and not by separate certificates until the tenth day following the earliest of (i) the date of public disclosure that a person or group (an "Acquiring Person"), together with persons affiliated or associated with it, has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 15% or more (or in the case of a shareholder or group who beneficially own in excess of 15% of the outstanding Common Stock on the Record Date, or any of the affiliates or associates of such 15% or more shareholder or group (each being a "Grandfathered Holder"), beneficial ownership of 20% or more) of the outstanding Common Stock (the "Stock Acquisition Date") and (ii) the commencement, or disclosure of an intention to commence, a tender offer or exchange offer by a person other than the Company and certain related entities if upon consummation of the offer, such person or group together with persons affiliated or associated with it, could acquire beneficial ownership of 15% or more (or in the case of a Grandfathered Holder, beneficial ownership of 20% or more) of the outstanding Common Stock, (the earlier of such dates being called the "Distribution Date"), and (iii) the date a majority of the independent directors, as defined in the Rights Agreement (the "Independent Directors") declare a person an "Adverse Person" upon a determination that such person, alone or together with its affiliates or associates, has become the beneficial owner of an amount of Common Stock which the Independent Directors determine to be substantial (which amount shall in no event be less than 10% of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding) and a determination by a majority of the Independent Directors, after reasonable inquiry and investigation, including consultations with such persons as such directors shall deem appropriate that (a) such ownership is detrimental to the maintenance, renewal, or acquisition of the Company's governmental or regulatory approvals, agreements, permits, licenses or registrations, or (b) such persons were convicted in criminal proceedings or are named defendants of pending criminal proceedings (excluding minor 1 offenses) relating to the pharmaceutical industry or any other business regulated by any federal, state or local governmental agency, or (c) such persons are currently subject to any order, judgment, decree or debarment of any court of competent jurisdiction or governmental or regulatory authority permanently or temporarily enjoining them from any type of business practice relating to the pharmaceutical industry or any other business regulated by any state or local governmental agency. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be transferable with and only with the Common Stock (except in connection with redemption of the Rights). Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption of the Rights), new Common Stock certificates issued after the Record Date upon transfer, replacement or new issuance of Common Stock 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 Stock will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificate. As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights ("Rights Certificates") will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date. From and after the Distribution Date, such separate Rights Certificates alone will evidence the Rights. The Rights will first become exercisable on the Distribution Date (unless sooner redeemed). The Rights will expire at the close of business on October 10, 2012 (the "Expiration Date"), unless earlier redeemed by the Company as described below. The Purchase Price is subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock dividend or distribution on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Common Stock, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Common Stock of certain rights, options, or warrants to subscribe for Common Stock or securities convertible into Common Stock at less than the current market price of the Common Stock, or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Common Stock or other securities, cash, property, evidences of indebtedness, or assets. In the event that a majority of the Independent Directors declare that a person is an Adverse Person (an "Adverse Person Event"), or a person acquires beneficial ownership of 15% or more (or in the case of a Grandfathered Holder, beneficial ownership of 20% or more), of the Common Stock (and the Independent Directors do not thereafter redeem the Rights in the time and manner permitted, such event referred to herein as a "Triggering Event"), then the Rights will "flip-in" and entitle such holder of a Right, except as provided below, to purchase, upon exercise at the then-current Purchase Price, that number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock having a market value of two times such Purchase Price. Any Rights beneficially owned at any time on or after the earlier of the Distribution Date and the Stock Acquisition Date by an Acquiring Person or Adverse Person, or an affiliate or associate of an Acquiring Person or Adverse Person (whether or not such ownership is subsequently transferred) will become null and void upon the occurrence of a Triggering Event 2 or an Adverse Person Event, and any holder of such Rights will have no right to exercise such Rights. In the event that, following the Stock Acquisition Date, the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination in which the Common Stock does not remain outstanding or is changed or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning power is sold, leased, exchanged, mortgaged, pledged or otherwise transferred or disposed of (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) the Rights will "flip-over" and entitle each holder of a Right (except those Rights which have been voided as set forth above) to purchase, upon the exercise of the Right at the then-current Purchase Price, that number of shares of common stock of the acquiring company (or, in certain circumstances, one of its affiliates) which at the time of such transaction would have a market value of two times such Purchase Price. With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least one percent (1%) in the Purchase Price; provided, however, that any adjustments not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations with respect to this adjustment shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one one-thousandth of a Series A Preferred Share or one ten-thousandth of any other share or security, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of these adjustment conditions, any adjustment required shall be made no later than the earlier of (i) three years from the date of the transaction which mandates such adjustment, or (ii) the Expiration Date. At any time prior to the earlier of (i) ten days following the Stock Acquisition Date, or (ii) the Expiration Date, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.001 per Right, subject to adjustment. Under certain circumstances the decision to redeem shall require the concurrence of a majority of the Independent Directors. The Company may not redeem the Rights if the Independent Directors have declared a person an Adverse Person. Immediately upon the action of the Company's Board of Directors electing to redeem the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights thereafter will be to receive the applicable redemption price. The term "Independent Directors" includes any member of the Board, while such Person is a member of the Board, who (i) is not an employee of the Company or (ii) does not receive compensation from the Company for services, other than services as a director or as a member of a committee of the Board of Directors. Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights as a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends or distributions of payments of principal or interest. At any time prior to ten days following the Stock Acquisition Date, the Company may, without the approval of any holder of the Rights, supplement or amend certain provisions of the Rights Agreement (including the date on which the Distribution Date will occur). Thereafter, the Rights Agreement may be amended only to cure ambiguities, to correct inconsistent provisions, or in ways that do not adversely affect the Rights holders. The Rights Agreement may not be amended to change the Purchase Price, the number of shares of Common Stock, other securities, 3 cash or other property obtainable upon exercise of a Right, the redemption price (other than as may be adjusted by operation of the Rights Agreement), or the Expiration Date, except that, prior to ten days following the Triggering Event, the Rights Agreement may be amended to substitute other securities for the Series A Preferred Stock otherwise obtainable upon exercise of a Right, provided the value of such securities is equal to the then current market price of one one-thousandth (1/1,000th) of a share of Series A Preferred Stock. The Rights have certain anti-takeover effects. The Rights may cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire the Company on terms not approved by the Company's Board of Directors. The Rights should not interfere with any merger or other business combination approved by the Company's Board of Directors prior to the time a person or group has acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or more (or in the case of a Grandfathered Holder, beneficial ownership of 20% or more) of the Common Stock, because until such time the Rights may be redeemed by the Company. The foregoing summary description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 1, and is incorporated herein by reference. Copies of the Rights Agreement will be available to shareholders free of charge from the Company. Also on September 27, 2002, the Board of Directors approved certain amendments to its Certificate of Incorporation. The Board approved an amendment to Article Third of its Certificate of Incorporation to designate 40,000 shares of its preferred stock as Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock. The Board also further provided that it shall have the right to further change the designation and relative rights, preferences and limitations of the Series A Preferred Stock so long as no Series A Preferred Stock is issued. ITEM 2. EXHIBITS. 1. Rights Agreement dated September 27, 2002 between DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company as Rights Agent, which includes the form of Amended Certificate of Incorporation for the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as Exhibit A, the form of Rights Certificate as Exhibit B and the Summary of Rights as Exhibit C. 4 SIGNATURES 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, thereto duly authorized. DUSA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. Dated: November 7, 2002 By: /s/ D. Geoffrey Shulman ------------------------------------ D. Geoffrey Shulman, MD, FRCPC President, Chief Executive Officer 5 EXHIBIT INDEX 1. Rights Agreement dated September 27, 2002 between DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company as Rights Agent, which includes the form of Amended Certificate of Incorporation for the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as Exhibit A, the form of Rights Certificate as Exhibit B and the Summary of Rights as Exhibit C. 6