SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20569 --------------------- FORM 8-A/A-3 AMENDMENT NO. 3 To Registration Statement dated November 23, 1998 relating to Preferred Stock Purchase Rights FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 94-2359345 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- (State of incorporation or organization) (IRS Employer Identification No.) 3100 Hansen Way Palo Alto, CA 94304-1000 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- (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. [ ] Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form relates: N/A 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 ------------------- ------------------------------ Preferred Stock Purchase Rights New York Stock Exchange Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: NONE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Title of Class) ITEM 1. DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT'S SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED. Item 1 is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph: On November 17, 2001, Varian Medical Systems, Inc. (the "Company") entered into an amendment (the "Third Amendment") to the Rights Agreement dated as of November 20, 1998 as amended, by the First Amendment dated April 1, 1999 and the Second Amendment dated August 17, 2001 (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and First Chicago Trust Company of New York ("First Chicago"). The Third Amendment, entered into by and among the Company, First Chicago and EquiServe Trust, N.A. ("EquiServe") as successor to First Chicago as Rights Agent (the"Rights Agent"), amends the Rights Agreement, effective as of November 16, 2001 to revise section 4.4, "Change of Rights Agent" of the Rights Agreement relative to qualifications of the Rights Agent and to substitute EquiServe as the Rights Agent. ITEM 2. EXHIBITS. Item 2 is hereby amended by adding new Exhibit 4 as follows: Exhibit No. Description ----------- ----------- (4) Third Amendment to Rights Agreement, dated as of November 16, 2001, between Varian Medical Systems, Inc., and First Chicago Trust Company of New York and EquiServe Trust, N.A., as Rights Agent. SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this amendment to the registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC. By: /s/ Joseph B. Phair Name: Joseph B. Phair Title: Vice President, Administration, General Counsel and Secretary Dated: January 4, 2002 EXHIBIT INDEX EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION ----------- ----------- (4) Third Amendment to Rights Agreement, dated as of November 16, 2001, between Varian Medical Systems, Inc., and First Chicago Trust Company of New York and EquiServe Trust, N.A., as Rights Agent.