UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE 13G

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. 1)*

 

 

ACACIA RESEARCH CORP.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock

(Title of Class of Securities)

003881307

(CUSIP Number)

December 31, 2014

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

 

 

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

x Rule 13d-1(b)

¨ Rule 13d-1(c)

¨ Rule 13d-1(d)

 

* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing in this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act.

 

 

 


SCHEDULE 13G

 

CUSIP No. 003881307  

 

  1)   

Name of reporting person

 

Bank of Montreal

  2)  

Check the appropriate box if a member of a group

(a)  ¨        (b)  ¨

 

  3)  

SEC use only

 

  4)  

Citizenship or place of organization

 

    Canada

Number of

shares

beneficially

owned by

each

reporting

person

with:

   5)    

Sole voting power:

 

    2,607,935(1)

   6)   

Shared voting power:

 

    10,195(1)(2)

   7)   

Sole dispositive power:

 

    2,790,583(1)

   8)   

Shared dispositive power:

 

    150,111(1)(2)

  9)  

Aggregate amount beneficially owned by each reporting person

 

    2,949,747(1)(2)

10)  

Check if the aggregate amount in Row (9) excludes certain shares    ¨

 

11)  

Percent of class represented by amount in Row (9)

 

    5.89%

12)  

Type of reporting person

 

    HC

 

(1) Shares are held indirectly by the Reporting Person’s subsidiaries, BMO Asset Management Corp. and BMO Harris Bank N.A.
(2) Beneficial ownership of 8,210 shares is specifically disclaimed. See Item 4.

 

1


SCHEDULE 13G

 

CUSIP No. 003881307  

 

  1)   

Name of reporting person

 

BMO Asset Management Corp.

  2)  

Check the appropriate box if a member of a group

(a)  ¨        (b)  ¨

 

  3)  

SEC use only

 

  4)  

Citizenship or place of organization

 

    Delaware, United States

Number of

shares

beneficially

owned by

each

reporting

person

with:

   5)    

Sole voting power:

 

    2,490,759

   6)   

Shared voting power:

 

    1,985

   7)   

Sole dispositive power:

 

    2,790,583

   8)   

Shared dispositive power:

 

    0

  9)  

Aggregate amount beneficially owned by each reporting person

 

    2,799,636

10)  

Check if the aggregate amount in Row (9) excludes certain shares    ¨

 

11)  

Percent of class represented by amount in Row (9)

 

    5.59%

12)  

Type of reporting person

 

    IA

 

 

2


SCHEDULE 13G

 

CUSIP No. 003881307  

 

  1)   

Name of reporting person

 

BMO Harris Bank N.A.

  2)  

Check the appropriate box if a member of a group

(a)  ¨        (b)  ¨

 

  3)  

SEC use only

 

  4)  

Citizenship or place of organization

 

    United States

Number of

shares

beneficially

owned by

each

reporting

person

with:

   5)    

Sole voting power:

 

    117,176

   6)   

Shared voting power:

 

    8,210(1)

   7)   

Sole dispositive power:

 

    0

   8)   

Shared dispositive power:

 

    150,111(1)

  9)  

Aggregate amount beneficially owned by each reporting person

 

    150,111(1)

10)  

Check if the aggregate amount in Row (9) excludes certain shares    ¨

 

11)  

Percent of class represented by amount in Row (9)

 

    0.30%

12)  

Type of reporting person

 

    BK

 

(1) Beneficial ownership of 8,210 shares is specifically disclaimed. See Item 4.

 

3


SCHEDULE 13G

CUSIP No. 003881307

 

ITEM 1(a).    Name of Issuer.
   Acacia Research Corp.
ITEM 1(b).    Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices.
   500 Newport Center Drive
   7th Floor
   Newport Beach, CA 92660
ITEM 2(a).    Names of Persons Filing.
   Bank of Montreal and its subsidiaries, BMO Asset Management Corp. and BMO Harris Bank N.A.
ITEM 2(b).    Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence.
  

Bank of Montreal

1 First Canadian Place

Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5X 1A1

  

BMO Harris Bank N.A.

111 West Monroe Street

Floor 6E

Chicago, IL 60690

  

BMO Asset Management Corp.

115 South La Salle Street

Floor 11 West

Chicago, IL 60603

ITEM 2(c).    Citizenship or Place of Organization.
   Bank of Montreal is organized under the laws of Canada. BMO Asset Management Corp. is organized under the laws of Delaware, United States. BMO Harris Bank N.A. is organized under the laws of the United States.
ITEM 2(d).    Title of Class of Securities.
   Common Stock

 

4


ITEM 2(e).   CUSIP Number.
  003881307
ITEM 3.   If this statement is filed pursuant to Sections 240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:
  (a)   ¨   Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o);
  (b)   x   Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c);
  (c)   ¨   Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c);
  (d)   ¨   Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8);
  (e)   x   An investment adviser in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);
  (f)   ¨   An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);
  (g)   x   A parent holding company or control person in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);
  (h)   ¨   A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);
  (i)   ¨   A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3);
  (j)   ¨   A non-U.S. institution in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J);
  (k)   ¨   Group, in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K).
ITEM 4.   Ownership.
  The information contained in Items 5 – 11 on the cover pages is incorporated herein by reference. The information included in Items 5-11 for Bank of Montreal and BMO Harris Bank N.A. includes 8,210 shares held in one or more employee benefit plans where BMO Harris Bank N.A., as directed trustee, may be viewed as having voting or dispositive authority in certain situations pursuant to SEC and Department of Labor regulations or interpretations. Pursuant to Rule 13d-4 under the Act, inclusion of such shares in this statement shall not be construed as an admission that the Reporting Person or its subsidiaries are, for purposes of Section 13(d) or 13(g) of the Act, the beneficial owners of such securities.
ITEM 5.   Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.
  If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following ¨.

 

5


ITEM 6.   Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.
  Bank of Montreal is reporting on this Schedule 13G securities held through its subsidiaries, BMO Asset Management Corp. and BMO Harris Bank N.A. as fiduciaries for certain employee benefit plans, trust and/or customer accounts. As a result, participants in the plans, trust beneficiaries and customers are entitled to receive, or have the power to direct the receipt of, dividends and proceeds from the sale of such securities. No such person is known to have such an interest relating to more than five percent of the class of subject securities.
ITEM 7.   Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company or Control Person.
  Bank of Montreal is the ultimate parent company of BMO Asset Management Corp., an investment adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, and BMO Harris Bank N.A., a bank as defined in section 3(a)6 of the Act.
ITEM 8.   Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.
  Not Applicable.
ITEM 9.   Notice of Dissolution of Group.
  Not Applicable.
ITEM 10.   Certifications.
  By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.

 

6


SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Dated as of the 13th day of February, 2015.

 

BANK OF MONTREAL

/s/ Barbara Muir

Barbara Muir
SVP, Deputy General Counsel Corporate Affairs & Corporate Secretary
BMO ASSET MANAGEMENT CORP.

*

BMO HARRIS BANK N.A.

*

 

* Pursuant to Power of Attorney filed as Exhibit 2 to Schedule 13G filed on February 14, 2014 by Reporting Persons named herein (File No. 005-59405), which is incorporated by reference.

 

7



Exhibit 1

JOINT FILING AGREEMENT

In accordance with rule 13d-1(k) under the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, each of the undersigned entities, as applicable, pursuant to a duly executed power of attorney, hereby agrees to this and any future joint filing of Schedule 13G (including any and all amendments thereto) to be made on their behalf and further agrees to the filing of this Agreement as an Exhibit thereto. In addition, each party to this Agreement consents to the filing of this and any future Schedule 13G (including any and all amendments thereto) by Bank of Montreal.

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned hereby execute this Agreement this 13th day of February, 2015.

 

BANK OF MONTREAL
By:

/s/ Barbara Muir

Barbara Muir
Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel of Corporate Affairs, and Corporate Secretary

 

BANK OF MONTREAL IRELAND PLC BMO ASSET MANAGEMENT CORP.

*

*

BMO ASSET MANAGEMENT INC. BMO CAPITAL MARKETS CORP.

*

*

BMO CAPITAL MARKETS LIMITED BMO DELAWARE TRUST COMPANY

*

*

BMO FINANCIAL CORP. BMO GLOBAL ASSET MANAGEMENT (ASIA) LIMITED

*

*


BMO HARRIS BANK N.A.     BMO HARRIS FINANCIAL ADVISORS, INC.

*

   

*

BMO HARRIS INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT INC.     BMO INVESTORLINE, INC.

*

   

*

BMO LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY     BMO NESBITT BURNS INC.

*

   

*

F&C ASSET MANAGEMENT PLC     HARRIS MY CFO, LLC

**

   

*

LGM (BERMUDA) LTD. (formerly, LLOYD GEORGE MANAGEMENT (BERMUDA) LTD.)     LGM INVESTMENTS LIMITED (formerly, LLOYD GEORGE MANAGEMENT (EUROPE) LTD.)

*

   

*

MONEGY INC.     PYRFORD INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

*

   

*

STOKLER OSTLER WEALTH ADVISORS INC.     SULLIVAN, BRUYETTE, SPEROS & BLAYNEY, INC.

*

   

*

TAPLIN, CANIDA & HABACHT, LLC    

*

   

 

* Pursuant to Power of Attorney filed as Exhibit 2 to Schedule 13G filed on February 14, 2014 by the Reporting Persons named herein (File No. 005-59405), which is incorporated by reference.
** Pursuant to Power of Attorney filed herewith.


Exhibit 2

POWER OF ATTORNEY

For executing Schedules 13G and 13D, 13G/D Joint Filing Agreement and Form 13F

Each of the undersigned entities represents that the individuals signing on behalf of the entity is duly authorized to do so and hereby constitutes and appoints Blair Morrison, Senior Vice-President, Deputy General Counsel, and Chief Compliance Officer of Bank of Montreal, Barbara Muir, Senior Vice-President, Deputy General Counsel of Corporate Affairs, and Corporate Secretary of Bank of Montreal, and Lino Cambone, Vice-President, Deputy General Counsel of Wealth Management, Assistant Corporate Secretary of Bank of Montreal, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place, and stead, in any and all capacities, to:

 

  1. complete and execute for and on behalf of the undersigned filings on Schedules 13G and 13D in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Act”) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any successor laws and regulations;

 

  2. complete and execute for and on behalf of the undersigned a joint filing agreement to provide for the joint filing on Schedules 13G or 13D in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any successor laws and regulations;

 

  3. complete and execute for and on behalf of the undersigned filings on Form 13F as required by Section 13(f) of the Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any successor laws and regulations;

 

  4. do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the undersigned that may be necessary or desirable to complete the execution of any such Schedules 13G and 13D, joint filing agreement and Forms 13F and the timely filing of such forms and agreements with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any other authority; and

 

  5. take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with the foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorneys-in-fact, may be of benefit to, in the best interest of, or legally required by, the undersigned, it being understood that the documents executed by such attorneys-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to the Power of Attorney shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as such attorneys-in-fact may approve in his or her discretion.

Each of the undersigned entities grants to said attorneys-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act necessary to be done in order to effectuate the same as fully, to all intents and purposes, as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agent, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. The undersigned entities acknowledge that the foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the request of the undersigned, is not assuming any of the undersigned’s responsibilities to comply with Section 13(d) of the Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.


This Power of Attorney shall remain in effect until the undersigned entity is no longer required to file Schedules 13G, 13D or Form 13F, unless earlier revoked by a duly authorized officer of the undersigned entity in writing and delivered to the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.

This Power of Attorney Signature Page may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. A facsimile or portable document format (.pdf) copy of the signature of a party to this Power of Attorney on any such counterpart shall be fully effective as in an original signature.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned duly authorized individuals have caused this Power of Attorney to be executed on this 5th day of August, 2014, on behalf of the respective entities.

 

F&C ASSET MANAGEMENT PLC
By:  

/s/ Nigel Parry

  Nigel Parry
  Head of Compliance
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