SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, DC 20549 FORM 8-A/12(b) FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Cott Corporation ---------------- (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) Canada Not applicable --------- -------------- (State of Incorporation or Organization) (IRS Employer Identification No.) 207 Queen's Quay West, Suite 340 Toronto, Ontario M5J 1A7 Canada Not applicable ------------------------------- -------------- (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) If this form relates to the registration If this form relates to the of a class of securities and is effective registration of a class of upon filing pursuant to Section 12(b) of securities pursuant to Section the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is to General Instruction A. (c), please effective pursuant to General check the following box. [X] Instruction A. (d), please check the following box. [ ] Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form relates: ---------- 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 ------------------- ------------------------------ Common Shares, without nominal or par value New York Stock Exchange, Inc. ------------------------------------------- ----------------------------- Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None ---- (Title of Class) INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT Item 1. Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered. The securities to be registered are the Common Shares. The authorized capital of the Company consists of an unlimited number of first preferred shares, issuable in series, an unlimited number of second preferred shares, issuable in series, and an unlimited number of Common Shares. As at June 30, 2002, 68,431,460 Common Shares were issued and outstanding. No preferred shares are outstanding. The holders of Common Shares are entitled to receive notice of all shareholders' meetings (except for any meeting at which only holders of another specified class or series of shares of the Company are entitled to vote) and to exercise one vote thereat for each share held. The holders of Common Shares are entitled to receive such dividends as are declared by the Board of Directors of the Company on the Common Shares as a class, subject to prior satisfaction of all preferential rights to dividends. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company, and subject to prior satisfaction of all preferential rights of return of capital attached to all shares of other classes of the Company ranking in priority to the Common Shares in respect of return of the capital, the holders of Common Shares will be entitled to share rateably, together with the holders of any other class ranking equally with Common Shares, in such assets of the Company as are available for distribution. Item 2. Exhibits. 1. The Company's Articles of Amalgamation, as amended, are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company's Form 10-K filed March 31, 2000. 2. The Company's By-Laws, as amended and restated, are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Company's Form 10-K filed March 8, 2002. -2- SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized. COTT CORPORATION By: /s/ Raymond P. Silcock -------------------------------- Raymond P. Silcock Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Date: July 24, 2002 -3-