UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 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, 2006

RITA Medical Systems, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


 
Delaware
000-30959
 
94-3199149
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
(Commission File
Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
 
 
46421 Landing Parkway, Fremont CA
94538
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)

 
(510) 771-0400
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
 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:

 
x 
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

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

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

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


Item 1.01 - Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

The information set forth under Item 3.03 below is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 3.03 - Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

On November 27, 2006, RITA Medical Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“RITA”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with AngioDynamics, Inc. (“AngioDynamics”), and Royal I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of AngioDynamics (“Merger Sub”). The Merger Agreement provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, RITA will merge with and into Merger Sub, with Merger Sub continuing as the surviving corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of AngioDynamics (the “Merger”). In connection with the Merger Agreement, RITA filed a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on November 28, 2006, to which the Merger Agreement was attached as Exhibit 2.1

On November 27, 2006, RITA and U.S. Stock Transfer Corporation (the “Rights Agent”) entered into Amendment No. 2 to Preferred Shares Rights Agreement dated November 27, 2006 (“Amendment No. 2”) to amend the Preferred Shares Rights Agreement dated as of July 31, 2001 by and between RITA and the Rights Agent (the “Rights Agreement”) by and between RITA and the Rights Agent and as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Preferred Shares Rights Agreement dated May 12, 2004 by and between RITA and the Rights Agent (“Amendment No. 1”). Among other things, Amendment No. 2 renders the rights issued pursuant to the Rights Agreement inapplicable to the Merger and the Merger Agreement. Copies of Amendment No. 1 and Amendment No. 2 are attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2 respectively and are incorporated in their entirety herein by reference.

Additional Information about the Merger and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed merger, RITA and AngioDynamics intend to file relevant materials with the SEC, including a registration statement on Form S-4 that will contain a prospectus and a joint proxy statement. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF ANGIODYNAMICS AND RITA ARE URGED TO READ THE MATERIALS WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT ANGIODYNAMICS, RITA AND THE PROPOSED MERGER. The proxy statement, prospectus and other relevant materials (when they become available), and any other documents filed by AngioDynamics or RITA with the SEC, may be obtained free of charge at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by AngioDynamics or RITA by directing a written request to: AngioDynamics, Inc., 603 Queensbury Avenue, Queensbury, New York 12804, Attention: Chief Financial Officer or RITA Medical Systems, Inc., 46421 Landing Parkway, Fremont, California 94538, Attention: Corporate Secretary. Investors and security holders are urged to read the proxy statement, prospectus and the other relevant materials when they become available before making any voting or investment decision with respect to the proposed merger.
 
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AngioDynamics, RITA and their respective executive officers and directors may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of RITA and AngioDynamics in connection with the proposed merger. Information about those executive officers and directors of AngioDynamics and their ownership of common stock of AngioDynamics is set forth in AngioDynamics’ Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 3, 2006 (the “AngioDynamics’ 2006 10-K”), and the proxy statement for AngioDynamics’ 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on September 22, 2006. Information about the executive officers and directors of RITA and their ownership of RITA common stock is set forth in the proxy statement for RITA’s 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 28, 2006. Investors and security holders may obtain additional information regarding the direct and indirect interests of AngioDynamics, RITA and their respective executive officers and directors in the proposed merger by reading the proxy statement and prospectus regarding the proposed merger when it becomes available.
 
Forward-Looking Statements

This document and its attachments include “forward-looking statements” intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements contain words such as “may,” “will,” “predict,” “project,” “might,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “intend,” “potential,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “estimate,” “seek,” “continue,” “pursue,” or “our future success depends,” or the negative or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. In particular, they include statements relating to, among other things, future actions, strategies, future performance, future financial results of AngioDynamics and RITA and the proposed merger. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about future events.

Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve risks and uncertainties that cannot be predicted or quantified and, consequently, the actual performance or results of AngioDynamics and RITA may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following factors as well as other factors described from time to time in AngioDynamics’ and RITA’s reports filed with the SEC, including AngioDynamics’ 2006 10-K and RITA’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005: financial community and rating agency perceptions of AngioDynamics and RITA; the effects of economic, credit and capital market conditions on the economy in general, and on medical device companies in particular; the ability to timely and cost-effectively integrate RITA into AngioDynamics’ operations; domestic and foreign health care reforms and governmental laws and regulations; third-party relations and approvals, technological advances and patents attained by competitors; and challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approvals.

Any forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and, as such, speak only as of the date made. AngioDynamics and RITA disclaim any obligation to update the forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date stated, or if no date is stated, as of the date of this document.
 
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Item 9.01 - Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c)    Exhibits.
 
 Exhibit No.
 
Description
4.1(1)
 
Amendment No. 1 to Preferred Shares Rights Agreement dated May 12, 2004 by and between RITA and U.S. Stock Transfer Corporation.
4.2(2)
 
Amendment No. 2 to Preferred Shares Rights Agreement dated November 27, 2006 by and between RITA and U.S. Stock Transfer Corporation.

(1)                                  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2 to RITA’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A filed with the SEC on November 29, 2006.

(2)                                  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 to RITA’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A filed with the SEC on November 29, 2006.
 
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SIGNATURE
 
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.
 
     
  RITA MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date: November 29, 2006 By:   /s/ Michael D. Angel 
 
 
Michael D. Angel 
Chief Financial Officer
 
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EXHIBIT INDEX

 Exhibit No.
 
Description
4.1(1)
 
Amendment No. 1 to Preferred Shares Rights Agreement dated May 12, 2004 by and between RITA and U.S. Stock Transfer Corporation.
4.2(2)
 
Amendment No. 2 to Preferred Shares Rights Agreement dated November 27, 2006 by and between RITA and U.S. Stock Transfer Corporation.

(1)                                  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2 to RITA’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A filed with the SEC on November 29, 2006.

(2)                                  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 to RITA’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A filed with the SEC on November 29, 2006.