UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, DC 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 CB BANCSHARES, INC. ________________________________________________________________________ (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter) Hawaii 99-0197163 ______________________________________ ________________________________ (State of Incorporation or Organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) 201 Merchant Street Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 ______________________________________ ________________________________ (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. [ ] 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. [x] Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form relates: N/A Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act: Title of Each Class Name of Each Exchange on Which to be so Registered Each Class is to be Registered ____________________ ______________________________ N/A N/A Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Preferred Stock Purchase Rights _____________________________________________ (Title of class) INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT ITEM 1. DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT'S SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED On July 23, 2003, the Board of Directors of CB Bancshares, Inc. (the "Company") declared a dividend distribution of one Right for each outstanding share of Company Common Stock to stockholders of record at the close of business on August 4, 2003 (the "Record Date"). Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company a unit consisting of one one-hundredth of a share (a "Unit") of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Series A Preferred Stock") at a Purchase Price of $225.00 per Unit, subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement (as amended, restated, renewed or extended from time to time, the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and City Bank, as Rights Agent. Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock certificates representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Rights Certificates will be distributed. Subject to certain exceptions specified in the Rights Agreement, the Rights will separate from the Common Stock and a Distribution Date will occur upon the earlier of (i) 10 days following a public announcement by the Company that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an "Acquiring Person") on or after the record date beneficially owns 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the "Stock Acquisition Date") or (ii) 10 business days (or such later date as the Board shall determine) following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer that would result in a person or group becoming an Acquiring Person. Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the Common Stock certificates and will be transferred with and only with such Common Stock certificates, (ii) new Common Stock certificates issued after the Record Date will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference and (iii) the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Stock outstanding will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificate. Pursuant to the Rights Agreement, the Company reserves the right to require prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event (as defined below) that, upon any exercise of Rights, a number of Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred Stock will be issued. The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will expire at 5:00 P.M. (Honolulu, Hawaii time) on August 4, 2013, unless such date is extended or the Rights are earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company as described below. As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights Certificates will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate Rights Certificates alone will represent the Rights. Except as otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, only shares of Common Stock issued prior to the Distribution Date will be issued with Rights. In the event that a Person becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or other securities of the Company) having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, following such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, all Rights that are, or (under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) were, beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person will be null and void. However, Rights are not exercisable following such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person until such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable by the Company as set forth below. For example, at an exercise price of $225.00 per Right, each Right not owned by an Acquiring Person (or by certain related parties) following such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person would entitle its holder to purchase $450.00 worth of Common Stock (or other consideration, as noted above) for $225.00. Assuming that the Common Stock had a per share value of $62.44 at such time, the holder of each valid Right would be entitled to purchase 7.2 shares of Common Stock for $225.00. In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition Date, (i) the Company engages in a merger or other business combination transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation, (ii) the Company engages in a merger or other business combination transaction in which the Company is the surviving corporation and the Common Stock of the Company is changed or exchanged, or (iii) 50% or more of the Company's assets or earning power is sold or transferred, each holder of a Right (except Rights which have previously been voided as set forth above) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, common stock of the acquiring company having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right. The events set forth in this paragraph and in the second preceding paragraph are referred to as the "Triggering Events." At any time after a person becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to the acquisition by such person or group of fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding Common Stock, the Board 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 share of Common Stock, or one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock (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). The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Units of Preferred Stock 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 Stock, (ii) if holders of the Preferred Stock are granted certain rights or warrants to subscribe for Preferred Stock or convertible securities at less than the current market price of the Preferred Stock, or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above). With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the Purchase Price. No fractional Units will be issued and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the Preferred Stock on the last trading date prior to the date of exercise. At any time until ten days following the Stock Acquisition Date, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.01 per Right (payable in cash, Common Stock or other consideration deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors). Under certain circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement, the decision to redeem will require the concurrence of a majority of the Continuing Directors. Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering redemption of the Rights with, where required, the concurrence of the Continuing Directors, the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the $.01 redemption price. The term "Continuing Directors" means any member of the Board of Directors of the Company who was a member of the Board prior to the date of the Rights Agreement, and any person who is subsequently elected to the Board if such person is recommended or approved by a majority of the continuing Directors, but shall not include an Acquiring Person, or an affiliate or associate of an Acquiring Person, or any representative of the foregoing entities. Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights will not be taxable to stockholders or to the Company, stockholders may, depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become exercisable for Common Stock (or other consideration) of the Company or for common stock of the acquiring company or in the event of the redemption of the Rights as set forth above. Any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board of Directors of the Company prior to the Distribution Date. After the Distribution Date, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board in order to cure any ambiguity, to make changes which do not adversely affect the interests of holders of Rights, or to shorten or lengthen any time period under the Rights Agreement. Under certain circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement, the decision to amend will require the concurrence of a majority of Continuing Directors. The foregoing notwithstanding, no amendment may be made at such time as the Rights are not redeemable. The Rights Agreement is filed herewith as Exhibit 1 and is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing summary description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Rights Agreement. ITEM 2. EXHIBITS The following exhibits are filed as a part of this Registration Statement. EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION 1 Rights Agreement, dated as of July 23, 2003 by and between CB Bancshares, Inc. and City Bank, as Rights Agent, including the form of Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock attached as Exhibit A thereto and the form of Rights Certificate attached as Exhibit B thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to CB Bancshares, Inc.'s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed July 24, 2003). 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, thereto duly authorized. CB BANCSHARES, INC. By: /s/ Dean K. Hirata ----------------------------------- Name: Dean K. Hirata Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) Date: July 24, 2003