As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 26, 2007
Registration No. 333-           

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

SENESCO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

84-1368850

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or
organization)

(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

 

303 George Street, Suite 420, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901
(732) 296-8400

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal
executive offices)

1998 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated

(Full title of the plan)

Bruce C. Galton, President and Chief Executive Officer
303 George Street, Suite 420, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901
(732) 296-8400

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copies of all communications, including all communications sent to the agent for service, should be sent to:

Emilio Ragosa, Esq.

Morgan Lewis & Bockius, LLP

502 Carnegie Center

Princeton, New Jersey 08540

(609) 919-6600


CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Title of
Securities to be
Registered

 

Amount to be
Registered(1) (2)

 

Proposed
Maximum
Offering Price Per
Share(3)

 

Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price(3)

 

Amount of
Registration Fee

 

Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share

 

3,000,000 shares

 

$

1.195

 

$

3,585,000

 

$

383.60

 

 


(1)                On December 14, 2006, an additional 3,000,000 shares of common stock became available for issuance under the Senesco Technologies, Inc. 1998 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated, in accordance with the provisions of the plan.  As a result, this registration statement covers such additional 3,000,000 shares of common stock, for an aggregate of 6,000,000 shares of common stock registered under such plan.

(2)                Pursuant to Rule 416 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement shall also cover any additional shares of common stock which become issuable under the Senesco Technologies, Inc. 1998 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated, by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction or to cover such additional shares as may hereinafter be offered or issued to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations or certain other capital adjustments, effected without the receipt of consideration by Senesco Technologies, Inc., which results in an increase in the number of the outstanding shares of common stock of Senesco Technologies, Inc.  This registration statement also relates to an indeterminate amount of interests in such plan.

(3)                Estimated solely for the purposes of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rules 457(c) and 457(h) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and based upon the average of the reported high and low sales prices per share of the common stock of Senesco Technologies, Inc. on January 24, 2007, as reported by the American Stock Exchange.  Pursuant to Rule 457(h)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, no separate registration fee is required with respect to the plan interests.

 




PART I

Information Required in the Section 10(a) Prospectus

As permitted by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, referred to herein as the Commission, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement on Form S-8 omits the information specified in Part I of Form S-8.

PART II

Information Required in the Registration Statement

Item 3.   Incorporation of Documents by Reference

Senesco Technologies, Inc. (the “Registrant”) hereby incorporates by reference into this Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) the following documents previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”):

(a)                                  The Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2006 (Commission File No. 001-31326), filed on October 13, 2006, pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), in which there is set forth the audited financial statements for the Registrant’s fiscal year ended June 30, 2006;

(b)                                 The Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006;

(c)                                  The Registrant’s Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on October 16, 2006, November 14, 2006, November 15, 2006, December 20, 2006, December 28, 2006 and January 22, 2007; and

(d)                                 The Registrant’s registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on May 14, 2002, in which there is described the terms, rights and provisions applicable to the Registrant’s outstanding common stock.

All reports and definitive proxy or information statements filed pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which de-registers all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.  Unless expressly incorporated into this Registration Statement, a report furnished on Form 8-K under the Exchange Act shall not be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement.  Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed document which also is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement.  Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

Item 4.   Description of Securities

Not applicable.

2




Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

Not applicable.

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law empowers a Delaware corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of such corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise.  A corporation may, in advance of the final disposition of any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding, pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by any officer, director, employee or agent in defending such action, provided that the director or officer undertakes to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation.  A corporation may indemnify such person against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.

A Delaware corporation may indemnify officers and directors in an action by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor under the same conditions, except that no indemnification is permitted without judicial approval if the officer or director is adjudged to be liable to the corporation.  Where an officer or director is successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action referred to above, the corporation must indemnify him against the expenses (including attorneys fees) which he actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith.  The indemnification provided is not deemed to be exclusive of any other rights to which an officer or director may be entitled under any corporation’s by-law, agreement, vote or otherwise.

Our certificate of incorporation includes a provision that eliminates the personal liability of our directors to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duty to the maximum extent permitted by the DGCL.  The DGCL does not permit liability to be eliminated (i) for any breach of a director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) for unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions, as provided in Section 174 of the DGCL, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.  In addition, as permitted in Section 145 of the DGCL, our certificate of incorporation and by-laws provide that we shall indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, including those circumstances in which indemnification would otherwise be discretionary, subject to certain exceptions.  Our by-laws also provide that we shall advance expenses to directors and officers incurred in connection with an action or proceeding as to which they may be entitled to indemnification, subject to certain exceptions.

Each of our indemnification agreements with each of our executive officers and directors provides for indemnification to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.  We also indemnify each of our directors and executive officers with the maximum indemnification allowed to directors and executive officers by the DGCL, subject to certain exceptions, as well as certain additional procedural protections.  In addition, we will generally advance expenses incurred by directors and executive officers in any action or proceeding as to which they may be entitled to indemnification, subject to certain exceptions.

3




The indemnification provisions in our certificate of incorporation and by-laws also permit indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933.  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable.

We currently carry director and officer liability insurance in the amount of $4,000,000.

Item 7.   Exemption from Registration Claimed

Not applicable.

Item 8.   Exhibits

Exhibit
Number

 

Exhibit

 

 

 

4.1

*

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Senesco Technologies, Inc. filed with the State of Delaware on January 22, 2007.

 

 

 

4.2

 

 

Amended and Restated By-laws of Senesco Technologies, Inc. as adopted on October 2, 2000. (Incorporated by reference to Senesco Technologies, Inc. quarterly report on Form 10-QSB for the period ended December 31, 2000.)

 

 

 

5.1

*

 

Opinion of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, counsel to Registrant.

 

 

 

23.1

*

 

Consent of Goldstein Golub Kessler LLP.

 

 

 

23.2

*

 

Consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).

 

 

 

24

*

 

Power of Attorney (included on the signature pages of this Registration Statement).

 

 

 

99.1

*

 

1998 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated on December 14, 2006.

 


* Filed herewith

Item 9.   Undertakings

A.                                   The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”),

(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this Registration Statement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end

4




of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement.

(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement;

provided, however, that clauses (1)(i) and (1)(ii) shall not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those clauses is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement;

(2) that for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and

(3) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the Offering.

B.                                     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

C.                                     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer, or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

5




 

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New Brunswick, State of New Jersey, on this 26th day of January, 2007.

SENESCO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Bruce C. Galton

 

 

Name:

Bruce C. Galton

 

Title:

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

6




Power of Attorney

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Bruce C. Galton and Joel Brooks, jointly and severally, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this registration statement, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature

 

Title

 

Date

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Bruce C. Galton

 

 

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

January 26, 2007

Bruce C. Galton

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Joel Brooks

 

 

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

January 26, 2007

Joel Brooks

 

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Ruedi Stalder

 

 

Chairman of the Board and Director

 

January 26, 2007

Ruedi Stalder

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ John E. Thompson

 

 

Executive Vice President of Research and

 

January 26, 2007

John E. Thompson, Ph.D.

 

Development and Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Christopher Forbes

 

 

Director

 

January 26, 2007

Christopher Forbes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Thomas C. Quick

 

 

Director

 

January 26, 2007

Thomas C. Quick

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ David Rector

 

 

Director

 

January 26, 2007

David Rector

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ John N. Braca

 

 

Director

 

January 26, 2007

John N. Braca

 

 

 

 

 

7




EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number

 

Exhibit

 

 

 

4.1

*

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Senesco Technologies, Inc. filed with the State of Delaware on January 22, 2007.

 

 

 

 

4.2

 

 

Amended and Restated By-laws of Senesco Technologies, Inc. as adopted on October 2, 2000. (Incorporated by reference to Senesco Technologies, Inc. quarterly report on Form 10-QSB for the period ended December 31, 2000.)

 

 

 

 

5.1

*

 

Opinion of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, counsel to Registrant.

 

 

 

 

23.1

*

 

Consent of Goldstein Golub Kessler LLP.

 

 

 

 

23.2

*

 

Consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).

 

 

 

 

24

*

 

Power of Attorney (included on the signature pages of this Registration Statement).

 

 

 

 

99.1

*

 

1998 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated on December 14, 2006.

 


* Filed herewith

8



EXHIBIT 4.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
SENESCO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Senesco Technologies, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (hereinafter referred to as the “Corporation”), hereby certifies as follows:

1.                                       The name of the Corporation is Senesco Technologies, Inc.  The Corporation filed its original Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on September 30, 1999.

2.                                       This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation amends the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of shares of common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized for issuance from thirty million (30,000,000) shares to sixty million (60,000,000) shares.

3.                                       This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242 and 245 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”).  The requisite approval was obtained at the Corporation’s 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, called and held upon notice in accordance with Section 222 of the DGCL.  This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation restates, integrates and amends the provisions of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation as follows:

FIRST:   The name of the Corporation is Senesco Technologies, Inc.

SECOND:   The Corporation’s registered officein the State of Delaware is locatedatCorporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19808.  The name of its registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.

THIRD:   The purpose for which the Corporation is organized is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL and to possess and exercise all of the powers and privileges granted by such law and any other law of Delaware.

FOURTH:   The total number of shares of all classes of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is Sixty Five Million (65,000,000) shares.  The Corporation is authorized to issue two classes of stock designated “Common Stock” and “Preferred Stock,” respectively.  The total number of shares of Common Stock authorized to be issued by the Corporation is Sixty Million (60,000,000), each such share of Common Stock having a $0.01 par value.  The total number of shares of Preferred Stock authorized to be issued by the Corporation is Five Million (5,000,000), each such share of Preferred Stock having a $0.01 par value.

The Board of Directors is expressly authorized to provide for the issuance of all or any shares of the Preferred Stock in one or more classes or series, and to fix for each such class or series such voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, and such distinctive designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and such qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, as shall be stated and expressed in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the issuance of such class or series and as may be permitted by the DGCL, including, without limitation, the authority to provide that any such class or series may be: (i) subject to redemption at such




time or times and at such price or prices; (ii) entitled to receive dividends (which may be cumulative or non-cumulative) at such rates, on such conditions, and at such times, and payable in preference to, or in such relation to, the dividends payable on any other class or classes or any other series; (iii) entitled to such rights upon the dissolution of, or upon any distribution of the assets of, the Corporation; or (iv) convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or classes of stock, or of any other series of the same or any other class or classes of stock, of the Corporation at such price or prices or at such rates of exchange and with such adjustments; all as may be stated in such resolution or resolutions.

FIFTH:   The Corporation is to have perpetual existence.

SIXTH:   In furtherance and not limitation of the powers conferred by law, subject to any limitations contained elsewhere in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws of the Corporation may be adopted, amended or repealed by a majority of the board of directors of the Corporation, and any Bylaws adopted by the board of directors of the Corporation may be amended or repealed by the stockholders entitled to vote thereon.  Election of directors need not be by written ballot.

SEVENTH:   A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable either to the Corporation or to any stockholder for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for: (i) any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders; or (ii) acts or omissions which are not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or knowing violation of the law; or (iii) any matter in respect of which such director shall be liable under Section 174 of the DGCL or any amendment thereto or successor provision thereto; or (iv) any transaction from which the director shall have derived an improper personal benefit.  Neither amendment nor repeal of this paragraph nor the adoption of any provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this paragraph shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this paragraph in respect of any matter occurring, or any cause of action, suit or claim that, but for this paragraph of this Article SEVENTH, would accrue or arise, prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption of an inconsistent provision.

EIGHTH:  The Corporation shall indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by law, as now or hereafter in effect, and such right to indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer of the Corporation and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and personal and legal representative; provided, however, that, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify any director or officer or his or her heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives) in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized or consented to by the Board of Directors.  The right to indemnification conferred by this Article EIGHTH shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding in advance of its final disposition.

The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, provide rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to employees and agents of the Corporation similar to those conferred in this Article EIGHTH to directors and officers of the Corporation.

The rights to indemnification and to the advance of expenses conferred in this Article EIGHTH shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws of the Corporation, any statute, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

Any repeal or modification of this Article EIGHTH by the stockholders of the Corporation shall not adversely affect any rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses of a director or




officer of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to any acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or modification.

NINTH:  Whenever a compromise or arrangement is proposed between this Corporation and its creditors or any class of them and/or between this Corporation and its stockholders or any class of them, any court of equitable jurisdiction within the State of Delaware may, on the application in a summary way of this Corporation or of any creditor or stockholder thereof, or on the application of any receiver or receivers appointed for this Corporation under the provisions of Section 291 of the DGCL or on the application of trustees in dissolution or of any receiver or receivers appointed for this Corporation under the provisions of Section 279 of the DGCL order a meeting of the creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders of this Corporation, as the case may be, to be summoned in such manner as the said court directs.  If a majority in number representing three-fourths in value of the creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders of this Corporation, as the case may be, agree to any compromise or arrangement and to any reorganization of this Corporation as consequence of such compromise or arrangement, the said compromise or arrangement and the said reorganization shall, if sanctioned by the court to which the said application has been made, be binding on all the creditors or class of creditors, and/or on all the stockholders or class of stockholders, of this Corporation, as the case may be, and also on this Corporation.

TENTH:  The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute and this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation.

* * * * * * *




 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, does hereby execute this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation this 22nd day of January, 2007.

 

/s/ Bruce C. Galton

 

 

Bruce C. Galton

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 



EXHIBIT 5.1

OPINION AND CONSENT OF MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP

January 26, 2007

Senesco Technologies, Inc.

303 George Street, Suite 420

New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901

Re:                               Senesco Technologies, Inc. – Registration Statement on Form S-8

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Senesco Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the filing of a registration statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).  The Registration Statement relates to the proposed offering and sale of up to 3,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Shares”), issuable under the Company’s 1998 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated.

In connection with this opinion letter, we have examined the Registration Statement and originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company and such other documents, records and other instruments as we have deemed appropriate for purposes of the opinion set forth herein.

We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the authenticity of the documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us as certified, facsimile or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies.

Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized by the Company and, when issued and sold by the Company and delivered by the Company against receipt of the purchase price therefor, in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

The opinions expressed herein are limited to the laws of the State of New Jersey and the Delaware General Corporation Law.

We hereby consent to the use of this opinion in connection with a sale of the Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement.  In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are acting within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules or regulations of the SEC thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

/s/ MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP

 

 

 

 

MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP

 



EXHIBIT 23.1

CONSENT OF THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT

To the Board of Directors

Senesco Technologies, Inc.

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of Senesco Technologies, Inc. on Form S-8 our report dated August 10, 2006, except for Note 14, as to which the date is October 11, 2006, on the consolidated financial statements of Senesco Technologies, Inc. and Subsidiary as of June 30, 2006 and 2005 and for each of the three years in the period ended June 30, 2006 appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2006.  We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.

GOLDSTEIN GOLUB KESSLER LLP

New York, New York

January 26, 2007



EXHIBIT 99.1

SENESCO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

1998 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
(as amended and restated on December 14, 2006)

1.                                       Purposes of the Plan.  The purposes of this Plan are to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility, to provide additional incentive to Employees, non-Employee Directors and Consultants of the Company and its Subsidiaries and to promote the success of the Company’s business.  Options granted under the Plan may be incentive stock options (as defined under Section 422 of the Code) or non-statutory stock options, as determined by the Administrator at the time of grant of an option and subject to the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.  Stock purchase rights may also be granted under the Plan.

2.                                       Certain Definitions.  As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:

(a)                                  “Administrator” means the Board or any of its Committees appointed pursuant to Section 4 of the Plan.

(b)                                 Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

(c)                                  Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(d)                                 Committee” means the Committee appointed by the Board of Directors in accordance with paragraph (a) of Section 4 of the Plan.

(e)                                  Common Stock” means the Common Stock of the Company.

(f)                                    Company” means Senesco Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

(g)                                 Consultant” means any person, including an advisor, who is engaged by the Company or any Parent or subsidiary to render services and is compensated for such services.

(h)                                 Continuous Status as an Employee” means the absence of any interruption or termination of the employment relationship by the Company or any Subsidiary.  Continuous Status as an Employee shall not be considered interrupted in the case of:  (i) sick leave; (ii) military leave; (iii) any other leave of absence approved by the Board, provided that such leave is for a period of not more than ninety (90) days, unless reemployment upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or statute, or unless provided otherwise pursuant to Company policy adopted from time to time; or (iv) transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company, its Subsidiaries or its successor.

(i)                                     Director” means a director of the Company.




(j)                                     Employee” means any person, including officers and Directors, employed by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.  The payment of a Director’s fee by the Company shall not be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company.

(k)                                  Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(l)                                     Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of Common Stock determined as follows:

(i)                                     If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system including without limitation the National Market System of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation (“Nasdaq”) System, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such system or exchange for the last market trading day prior to the time of determination as reported in the Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable or;
(ii)                                  If the Common Stock is quoted on Nasdaq (but not on the National Market System thereof) or regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, its Fair Market Value shall be the mean between the high and low asked prices for the Common Stock or;
(iii)                               In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined in good faith by the Administrator.

(m)                               Incentive Stock Option” means an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

(n)                                 Nonstatutory Stock Option” means an Option not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

(o)                                 Option” means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan.

(p)                                 Optioned Stock” means the Common Stock subject to an Option.

(q)                                 Optionee” means a Director, Employee or Consultant who receives an Option.

(r)                                    Parent” means a “parent corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

(s)                                  Plan” means this 1998 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended.

(t)                                    Restricted Stock” means shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to a grant of stock purchase rights under Section 11 below.

(u)                                 Share” means a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 13 of the Plan.




(v)                                 Subsidiary” means a “subsidiary corporation”, whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

3.                                       Stock Subject to the Plan.  Subject to the provisions of Section 13 of the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of shares which may be optioned and sold under the Plan is six million (6,000,000) shares of Common Stock.  The shares may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.

If an option should expire or become unexercisable for any reason without having been exercised in full, the unpurchased Shares which were subject thereto shall, unless the Plan shall have been terminated, become available for future grant under the Plan.

4.                                       Administration of the Plan.

(a)                                  Procedure.

(i)                                     Administration With Respect to Directors and Officers.  With respect to grants of Options or stock purchase rights to Employees who are also officers or Directors of the Company, the Plan shall be administered by (A) the Board, if the Board may administer the Plan in compliance with Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or any successor thereto (“Rule 16b-3”) with respect to a plan intended to allow transactions between the Company and the Optionee to be exempt for Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, or (B) a Committee designated by the Board to administer the Plan, which Committee shall be constituted in such a manner as to permit the Plan to comply with Rule 16b-3 with respect to a plan intended to allow transactions between the Company and the Optionee to be exempt for Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.  Once appointed, such Committee shall continue to serve in its designated capacity until otherwise directed by the Board.  From time to time the Board may increase the size of the Committee and appoint additional members thereof, remove members (with or without cause) and appoint new members in substitution therefor, fill vacancies, however caused, and remove all members of the Committee and thereafter directly administer the Plan, all to the extent permitted by Rule 16b-3 with respect to a plan intended to qualify thereunder as a discretionary plan.

(ii)                                  Multiple Administrative Bodies.  If permitted by Rule 16b-3, the Plan may be administered by different bodies with respect to Directors, non-director officers and Employees who are neither Directors nor officers.

(iii)                               Administration With Respect to Consultants and Other Employees. With respect to grants of Options or stock purchase rights to Employees who are neither Directors nor officers of the Company or to Consultants, the Plan shall be administered by (A) the Board, if the Board may administer the Plan in compliance with Rule 16b-3, or (B) a Committee designated by the Board, which Committee shall be constituted in such a manner as to satisfy the legal requirements relating to the administration of incentive stock option plans, if any, of Idaho corporate law and applicable securities laws and of the Code (the “Applicable Laws”). Once appointed, such Committee shall continue to serve in its designated capacity until otherwise directed by the Board.  From time to time the Board may increase the size of the Committee and appoint additional members thereof, remove members (with or without cause) and appoint new members in substitution therefor, fill vacancies, however caused, and remove all members of the




Committee and thereafter directly administer the Plan, all to the extent permitted by the Applicable Laws.

(b)                                 Powers of the Administrator.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan and in the case of a Committee, the specific duties delegated by the Board to such Committee, the Administrator shall have the authority, in its discretion:

(i)                                     to determine the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock, in accordance with Section 2(k) of the Plan;

(ii)                                  to select the officers, Directors, Consultants and Employees to whom Options and stock purchase rights may from time to time be granted hereunder;

(iii)                               to determine whether and to what extent Options and stock purchase rights or any combination thereof, are granted hereunder;

(iv)                              to determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each such award granted hereunder;

(v)                                 to approve forms of agreement for use under the Plan;

(vi)                              to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any award granted hereunder (including, but not limited to, the share price and any restriction or limitation or waiver of forfeiture restrictions regarding any Option or other award and/or the shares of Common Stock relating thereto, based in each case on such factors as the Administrator shall determine, in its sole discretion);

(vii)                           to determine whether and under what circumstances an Option may be settled in cash under subsection 9(f) instead of Common Stock;

(viii)                        to determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances Common Stock and other amounts payable with respect to an award under this Plan shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the participant (including providing for and determining the amount, if any, of any deemed earnings on any deferred amount during any deferral period);

(ix)                                to reduce the exercise price of any Option to the then current Fair Market Value if the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock covered by such Option shall have declined since the date the Option was granted; and

(x)                                   to determine the terms and restrictions applicable to stock purchase rights and the Restricted Stock purchased by exercising such stock purchase rights.

(c)                                  Effect of Committee’s Decision.  All decisions, determinations and interpretations of the Administrator shall be final and binding on all Optionees and any other holders of any Options.




5.                                       Eligibility.

(a)                                  (a)                                  Nonstatutory Stock Options may be granted to Directors, Employees and Consultants.  Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees.  A Director, Employee or Consultant who has been granted an Option may, if he is otherwise eligible, be granted an additional Option or Options.

(b)                                 Each Option shall be designated in the written option agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option.  However, notwithstanding such designations, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares with respect to which Options designated as Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Optionee during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds $100,000, such excess Options shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options.

(c)                                  For purposes of Section 5(b), Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and the Fair Market Value of the Shares shall be determined as of the time the Option with respect to such Shares is granted.

(d)                                 The Plan shall not confer upon any Optionee any right with respect to continuation of employment or consulting relationship with the Company, nor shall it interfere in any way with his right or the Company’s right to terminate his employment or consulting relationship at any time, with or without cause.

6.                                       Term of Plan.  The Plan shall become effective upon the earlier to occur of its adoption by the Board of Directors or its approval by the shareholders of the Company as described in Section 19 of the Plan.  It shall continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years unless sooner terminated under Section 15 of the Plan.

7.                                       Term of Option.  The term of each Option shall be the term stated in the Option Agreement; provided, however, that in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the term shall be no more than ten (10) years from the date of grant thereof or such shorter term as may be provided in the Option Agreement.  However, in the case of an Option granted to an Optionee who, at the time the Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the term of the Option shall be five (5) years from the date of grant thereof or such shorter term as may be provided in the Option Agreement.

8.                                       Option Exercise Price and Consideration.

(a)                                  The per share exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant to exercise of an Option shall be such price as is determined by the Board, but shall be subject to the following:

(i)                                     In the case of an Incentive Stock Option

(A)                              granted to an Employee who, at the time of the grant of such Incentive Stock Option, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.




(B)                                granted to any Employee, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.

(ii)                                  In the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option

(A)                              granted to a person who, at the time of the grant of such Option, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of the grant.

(B)                                granted to any person, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 85% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.

(b)                                 The consideration to be paid for the Shares to be issued upon exercise of an Option, including the method of payment, shall be determined by the Administrator (and, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, shall be determined at the time of grant) and may consist entirely of (1) cash, (2) check, (3) promissory note, (4) other Shares which (x) in the case of Shares acquired upon exercise of an Option either have been owned by the Optionee for more than six months on the date of surrender or were not acquired, directly or indirectly, from the Company, and (y) have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which said Option shall be exercised, (5) authorization from the Company to retain from the total number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised that number of Shares having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the exercise price for the total number of Shares as to which the option is exercised, (6) delivery of a properly executed exercise notice together with irrevocable instructions to a broker to promptly deliver to the Company the amount of sale or loan proceeds required to pay the exercise price, (7) by delivering an irrevocable subscription agreement for the Shares which irrevocably obligates the option holder to take and pay for the Shares not more than twelve months after the date of delivery of the subscription agreement, (8) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment, or (9) such other consideration and method of payment for the issuance of Shares to the extent permitted under Applicable Laws.  In making its determination as to the type of consideration to accept, the Administrator shall consider if acceptance of such consideration may be reasonably expected to benefit the Company.

9.                                       Exercise of Option.

(a)                                  Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Shareholder.  Any Option granted hereunder shall be exercisable at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator, including performance criteria with respect to the Company and/or the Optionee, and as shall be permissible under the terms of the Plan.

An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.

An Option shall be deemed to be exercised when written notice of such exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Option by the person entitled to exercise the Option and full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised has been received by the Company.  Full payment may, as authorized by the Administrator, consist of any consideration and method of payment allowable under Section 8(b) of the Plan.  Until the issuance (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of




the Company) of the stock certificate evidencing such Shares, no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a shareholder shall exist with respect to the Optioned Stock, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option.  The Company shall issue (or cause to be issued) such stock certificate promptly upon exercise of the Option.  No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the stock certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 11 of the Plan.

Exercise of an Option in any manner shall result in a decrease in the number of Shares which thereafter may be available, both for purposes of the Plan and for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised.

(b)                                 Termination of Employment.  In the event of termination of an Optionee’s consulting relationship, directorship or Continuous Status as an Employee with the Company (as the case may be), such Optionee may, but only within three (3) months (or such other period of time as is determined by the Board, with such determination in the case of an Incentive Stock Option being made at the time of grant of the Option and not exceeding three (3) months) after the date of such termination (but in no event later than the expiration date of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement), exercise his Option to the extent that Optionee was entitled to exercise it at the date of such termination.  To the extent that Optionee was not entitled to exercise the Option at the date of such termination, or if Optionee does not exercise such Option to the extent so entitled within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.

(c)                                  Disability of Optionee.  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9(b) above, in the event of termination of an Optionee’s consulting relationship or Continuous Status as an Employee as a result of his total and permanent disability (as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), Optionee may, but only within twelve (12) months from the date of such termination (but in no event later than the expiration date of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement), exercise the Option to the extent otherwise entitled to exercise it at the date of such termination.  To the extent that Optionee was not entitled to exercise the Option at the date of termination, or if Optionee does not exercise such Option to the extent so entitled within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.

(d)                                 Death of Optionee.  In the event of the death of an Optionee, the Option may be exercised, at any time within twelve (12) months following the date of death (but in no event later than the expiration date of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement), by the Optionee’s estate or by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent the Optionee was entitled to exercise the Option at the date of death.  To the extent that Optionee was not entitled to exercise the Option at the date of termination, or if Optionee does not exercise such Option to the extent so entitled within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.

(e)                                  Rule 16b-3.  Options granted to persons subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act must comply with Rule 16b-3 and shall contain such additional conditions or restrictions as may be required thereunder to qualify for the maximum exemption from Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to Plan transactions.

(f)                                    Buyout Provisions.  The Administrator may at any time offer to buy out for a payment in cash or Shares, an Option previously granted, based on such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall establish and communicate to the Optionee at the time that such offer is made.




10.                                 Non-Transferability of Options.  The Option may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Optionee, only by the Optionee.  The terms of the Option shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, heirs, successors and assigns of the Optionee.

11.                                 Stock Purchase Rights.

(a)                                  Rights to Purchase.  Stock purchase rights may be issued either alone, in addition to, or in tandem with other awards granted under the Plan and/or cash awards made outside of the Plan.  After the Administrator determines that it will offer stock purchase rights under the Plan, it shall advise the offeree in writing of the terms, conditions and restrictions related to the offer, including the number of Shares that such person shall be entitled to purchase, the price to be paid (which price shall not be less than 50% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares as of the date of the offer), and the time within which such person must accept such offer, which shall in no event exceed thirty (30) days from the date upon which the Administrator made the determination to grant the stock purchase right.  The offer shall be accepted by execution of a Restricted Stock purchase agreement in the form determined by the Administrator.

(b)                                 Repurchase Option.  Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, the Restricted Stock purchase agreement shall grant the Company a repurchase option exercisable upon the voluntary or involuntary termination of the purchaser’s employment with the Company for any reason (including death or Disability).  The purchase price for Shares repurchased pursuant to the Restricted Stock purchase agreement shall be the original price paid by the purchaser and may be paid by cancellation of any indebtedness of the purchaser to the Company. The repurchase option shall lapse at such rate as the Committee may determine.

(c)                                  Other Provisions.  The Restricted Stock purchase agreement shall contain such other terms, provisions and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion.  In addition, the provisions of Restricted Stock purchase agreements need not be the same with respect to each purchaser.

(d)                                 Rights as a Shareholder.  Once the stock purchase right is exercised, the purchaser shall have the rights equivalent to those of a shareholder, and shall be a shareholder when his or her purchase is entered upon the records of the duly authorized transfer agent of the Company.  No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the stock purchase right is exercised, except as provided in Section 13 of the Plan.

12.                                 Stock Withholding to Satisfy Withholding Tax Obligations.  At the discretion of the Administrator, Optionees may satisfy withholding obligations as provided in this paragraph.  When an Optionee incurs tax liability in connection with an Option or stock purchase right, which tax liability is subject to tax withholding under applicable tax laws, and the Optionee is obligated to pay the Company an amount required to be withheld under applicable tax laws, the Optionee may satisfy the withholding tax obligation by electing to have the Company withhold from the Shares to be issued upon exercise of the Option, or the Shares to be issued in connection with the stock purchase right, if any, or delivery of additional shares of Common Stock, that number of shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the




amount required to be withheld; provided, however, that the total tax withholding where stock is being used to satisfy such tax obligations cannot exceed the Company’s minimum statutory withholding obligations (based on minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that are applicable to such supplemental taxable income).  The Fair Market Value of the Shares to be withheld shall be determined on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined (the “Tax Date”).

All elections by an Optionee to have Shares withheld for this purpose shall be made in writing in a form acceptable to the Administrator and shall be subject to the following restrictions:

(a)                                  the election must be made on or prior to the applicable Tax Date;

(b)                                 once made, the election shall be irrevocable as to the particular Shares of the Option or Right as to which the election is made;

(c)                                  all elections shall be subject to the consent or disapproval of the Administrator;

(d)                                 if the Optionee is subject to Rule 16b-3, the election must comply with the applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3 and shall be subject to such additional conditions or restrictions as may be required thereunder to qualify for the maximum exemption from Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to Plan transactions.

In the event the election to have Shares withheld is made by an Optionee and the Tax Date is deferred under Section 83 of the Code because no election is filed under Section 83(b) of the Code, the Optionee shall receive the full number of Shares with respect to which the Option or stock purchase right is exercised but such Optionee shall be unconditionally obligated to tender back to the Company the proper number of Shares on the Tax Date.

13.                                 Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization or Merger.  Subject to any required action by the shareholders of the Company, the number of shares of Common Stock covered by each outstanding Option, and the number of shares of Common Stock which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Options have yet been granted or which have been returned to the Plan upon cancellation or expiration of an Option, as well as the price per share of Common Stock covered by each such outstanding Option, shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company; provided, however, that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been “effected without receipt of consideration.”  Such adjustment shall be made by the Board, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive.  Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of shares of Common Stock subject to an Option.

In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Board shall notify the Optionee at least fifteen (15) days prior to such proposed action.  To the extent it has not been previously exercised, the Option will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed




action.  In the event of a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation or the sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets (hereinafter, a “merger”), the Option shall be assumed or an equivalent option shall be substituted by such successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such successor corporation. In the event that such successor corporation does not agree to assume the Option or to substitute an equivalent option, the Board shall, in lieu of such assumption or substitution, provide for the Optionee to have the right to exercise the Option as to all of the Optioned Stock, including Shares as to which the Option would not otherwise be exercisable.  If the Board makes an Option fully exercisable in lieu of assumption or substitution in the event of a merger, the Board shall notify the Optionee that the Option shall be fully exercisable for a period of fifteen (15) days from the date of such notice, and the Option will terminate upon the expiration of such period. For the purposes of this paragraph, the Option shall be considered assumed if, following the merger, the Option or right confers the right to purchase, for each Share of stock subject to the Option immediately prior to the merger, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the merger by holders of Common Stock for each Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the merger was not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent, the Board may, with the consent of the successor corporation and the participant, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of the Option, for each Share of stock subject to the Option, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent equal in Fair Market Value to the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the merger or sale of assets.

14.                                 Time of Granting Options.  The date of grant of an Option shall, for all purposes, be the date on which the Administrator makes the determination granting such Option, or such other date as is determined by the Board.  Notice of the determination shall be given to each Director, Employee or Consultant to whom an Option is so granted within a reasonable time after the date of such grant.

15.                                 Amendment and Termination of the Plan.

(a)                                  Amendment and Termination.  The Board may at any time amend, alter, suspend or discontinue the Plan, but no amendment, alteration, suspension or discontinuation shall be made which would impair the rights of any Optionee under any grant theretofore made, without his or her consent.  In addition, to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act or with Section 422 of the Code (or any other applicable law or regulation, including the requirements of the NASD or an established stock exchange), the Company shall obtain shareholder approval of any Plan amendment in such a manner and to such a degree as required.

(b)                                 Effect of Amendment or Termination.  Any such amendment or termination of the Plan shall not affect Options already granted and such Options shall remain in full force and effect as if this Plan had not been amended or terminated, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Optionee and the Board, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Optionee and the Company.

16.                                 Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares.  Shares shall not be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Option unless the exercise of such Option and the issuance and delivery of such Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all relevant provisions of law, including, without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the




requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Shares may then be listed, and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.

As a condition to the exercise of an Option, the Company may require the person exercising such Option to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any of the aforementioned relevant provisions of law.

17.                                 Reservation of Shares.  The Company, during the term of this Plan, will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.

The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.

18.                                 Agreements.  Options and stock purchase rights shall be evidenced by written agreements in such form as the Board shall approve from time to time.

19.                                 Shareholder Approval.  Continuance of the Plan shall be subject to approval by the shareholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan is adopted. Such shareholder approval shall be obtained in the degree and manner required under applicable state and federal law.

20.                                 Information to Optionees.  The Company shall provide to each Optionee, during the period for which such Optionee has one or more Options outstanding, copies of all annual reports and other information which are provided to all shareholders of the Company. The Company shall not be required to provide such information if the issuance of Options under the Plan is limited to key employees whose duties in connection with the Company assure their access to equivalent information.

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