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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 5, 1999
Registration No. 333-
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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ASK JEEVES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
DELAWARE 7375 94-3256053
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(State of Incorporation) (Primary Standard Industrial) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
Classification Code Number
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5858 HORTON STREET, SUITE 350
EMERYVILLE, CALIFORNIA 94608
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(Address of principal executive offices)
1999 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
1999 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
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(Full title of the plans)
ROBERT W. WRUBEL
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
ASK JEEVES, INC.
5858 HORTON STREET, SUITE 350
EMERYVILLE, CA 94608
(510) 985-7400
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(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
area code, of agent for service)
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COPIES TO:
ANDREI M. MANOLIU, ESQ.
COOLEY GODWARD LLP
FIVE PALO ALTO SQUARE
3000 EL CAMINO REAL
PALO ALTO, CA 94306-2155
(650) 843-5000
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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PROPOSED MAXIMUM PROPOSED MAXIMUM
TITLE OF SECURITIES AMOUNT TO BE OFFERING PRICE PER AGGREGATE OFFERING AMOUNT OF
TO BE REGISTERED REGISTERED SHARE(1) PRICE(1) REGISTRATION FEE
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<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Common Stock (par
value $.001) 2,426,236 $0.3638-$41.00 $49,448,248.84 $13,746.61
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(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the
registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) and (h)(l). The price per share
and aggregate offering price are based upon (i) $0.3638 - $41.00, the
exercise prices of 1,578,375 outstanding options to purchase Common Stock
pursuant to Registrant's 1999 Equity Incentive Plan and (ii) $34.50, the
closing sales price of Registrant's Common Stock on September 30, 1999
as reported on The Nasdaq National Market System for 447,861 shares of
Common Stock reserved for issuance pursuant to Registrant's 1999 Equity
Incentive Plan and 400,000 shares of Common Stock reserved pursuant to
Registrant's 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
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ii
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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following documents filed by Ask Jeeves, Inc. (the "Company") with
the Securities and Exchange Commission are incorporated by reference into this
Registration Statement:
(a) The Company's latest annual report on Form 10-K filed pursuant to
Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), or either (1) the Company's latest prospectus filed pursuant to
Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"),
that contains audited financial statements for the Company's latest fiscal year
for which such statements have been filed, or (2) the Company's effective
registration statement on Form 10 or 20-F filed under the Exchange Act
containing audited financial statements for the Company's latest fiscal year.
(b) All other reports filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by the annual reports, the
prospectus or the registration statement referred to in (a) above.
(c) The description of the Company's Common Stock which is contained in
a registration statement filed under the Exchange Act, including any amendment
or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.
All reports and other documents subsequently filed by the Company
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the
filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered
have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall
be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part of this
registration statement from the date of the filing of such reports and
documents.
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Under Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law the Company
has broad powers to indemnify its directors and officers against liabilities
they may incur in such capacities, including liabilities under the Securities
Act. The Company's Bylaws provide that the Company will indemnify its directors
and executive officers and may indemnify other officers to the fullest extent
permitted by law. Under its Bylaws, indemnified parties are entitled to
indemnification for negligence, gross negligence and otherwise to the fullest
extent permitted by law. The Bylaws also require the Company to advance
litigation expenses in the case of stockholder derivative actions or other
actions, against an undertaking by the indemnified party to repay such advances
if it is ultimately determined that the indemnified party is not entitled to
indemnification.
In addition, the Company's Certificate of Incorporation provides that,
pursuant to Delaware law, its directors shall not be liable for monetary damages
for breach of the directors' fiduciary duty of care to the Company and its
stockholders. This provision in the Certificate of Incorporation does not
eliminate the duty of care, and in appropriate circumstances equitable remedies
such as injunctive or other forms of non-monetary relief will remain available
under Delaware law. In addition, each director will continue to be subject to
liability for breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the Company for acts
or omissions not in good faith or involving intentional misconduct, for knowing
violation of law, for actions leading to improper personal benefit to the
director, and for payment of dividends or approval of stock repurchases or
redemptions that are unlawful under Delaware law. The provision also does not
affect a director's responsibilities under any other law, such as the federal
securities laws or state or federal environmental laws.
The Company has entered into indemnity agreements with each of its
directors and executive officers. Such indemnity agreements contain provisions
that are in some respects broader than the specific indemnification provisions
contained in Delaware law.
The Company maintains a policy providing directors' and officers'
liability insurance, which insures directors and officers of the Company in
certain circumstances with a liability limit of $15,000,000 per claim and in the
aggregate, subject to varying retentions. This coverage is on a claims made
basis.
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EXHIBITS
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<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER
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<S> <C>
5 Opinion of Counsel.
23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors
23.2 Consent of Counsel is contained in Exhibit 5 to this
Registration Statement.
24 Power of Attorney is contained on the signature page II-1.
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UNDERTAKINGS
1. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(a) 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;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
the effective date of the 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 the 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 of
the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus
filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) (Section 230.424(b) of this
chapter) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more
than a 20% 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 the registration statement or any
material change to such information in the registration statement;
Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(i) and (a)(ii) do not apply if
the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the issuer pursuant to
section 13 or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by
reference herein.
(b) 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 herein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.
(c) 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.
2. 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 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee
benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Exchange
Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that
time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
2
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3. 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 Securities and
Exchange 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.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
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 Emeryville, State of California, on October 1,
1999.
ASK JEEVES, INC.
By: /s/ M. Bruce Nakao
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M. Bruce Nakao
Chief Financial Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Robert W. Wrubel and M. Bruce Nakao, and
each or any one of them, his or her true and lawful attorney-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 sign any and all
amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement,
and to file the same, with all 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 and necessary to be done
in connection therewith, 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 agents, or any of them, or their or his or her substitutes
or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
II-1
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration
Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.
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<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
<S> <C> <C>
/s/ Robert W. Wrubel President, Chief Executive October 1, 1999
- ------------------------------- Officer and Director
Robert W. Wrubel (Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Roger A. Strauch Chairman of the Board October 1, 1999
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Roger A. Strauch
/s/ M. Bruce Nakao Chief Financial Officer (Principal October 1, 1999
- ------------------------------- Financial and Accounting Officer)
M. Bruce Nakao
/s/ A. George Battle Director October 1, 1999
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A. George Battle
/s/ Garrett Gruener Director October 1, 1999
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Garrett Gruener
/s/ Daniel J. Nova Director October 1, 1999
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Daniel J. Nova
/s/ Benjamin M. Rosen Director October 1, 1999
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Benjamin M. Rosen
/s/ Geoffrey Y. Yang Director October 1, 1999
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Geoffrey Y. Yang
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II-2
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EXHIBIT INDEX
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<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION
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5 Opinion of Counsel.
23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors
23.2 Consent of Counsel is contained in Exhibit 5 to this
Registration Statement.
24 Power of Attorney is contained on the signature page II-1.
</TABLE>
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EXHIBIT 5
[ASK JEEVES LETTERHEAD]
October 1, 1999
2426236
Ask Jeeves, Inc.
5858 Horton Street, Suite 350
Emeryville, CA 94608
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am General Counsel of Ask Jeeves, Inc. (the "Company") and rendering this
opinion with respect to certain matters in connection with the filing by the
Company of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement")
with the Securities and Exchange Commission covering the offering of up to
2,426,236 shares of the Company's Common Stock, $.001 par value (the "Shares"),
pursuant to its 1999 Equity Incentive Plan and its 1999 Employee Stock Purchase
Plan (the "Plans").
In connection with this opinion, I have examined the Registration Statement and
related Prospectuses, the Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws, as amended,
and such other documents, records, certificates, memoranda and other instruments
as I deem necessary as a basis for this opinion.
On the basis of the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, I am of the opinion that
the Shares, when sold and issued in accordance with the Plans, the Registration
Statement and related Prospectuses, will be validly issued, fully paid, and
nonassessable.
I consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement.
Very truly yours,
By: /s/ Amy Slater
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Amy Slater
General Counsel
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EXHIBIT 23.1
CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form
S-8) pertaining to the 1999 Equity Incentive Plan and 1999 Employee Stock
Purchase Plan of Ask Jeeves, Inc. of our report dated March 10, 1999 (except for
Note 7, as to which the date is June 28, 1999) with respect to the financial
statements of Ask Jeeves, Inc. as of December 31, 1997 and 1998 and for the
period from June 13, 1996 (inception) through December 31, 1996 and for each of
the two years ended December 31, 1997 and 1998 included in the Registration
Statement (Form S-1, No. 333-77539), as amended, and the related prospectus of
Ask Jeeves, Inc., filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
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Ernst & Young LLP
Walnut Creek, California
October 1, 1999
