<PAGE> 1
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 21, 1997.
Registration No. 333-_____
================================================================================
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
-------------------
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
-------------------
VERITAS DGC INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE 76-0343152
(State or Other Jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer
of Incorporation or Organization) Identification No.)
3701 KIRBY DRIVE, SUITE 112
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77098
(713) 512-8300
(Address, including Zip Code, of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)
-------------------
VERITAS DGC INC.
1997 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
(Full Title of Plan)
-------------------
Name, Address, Telephone and Copy of Communications to:
Number of Agent for Service:
ANTHONY TRIPODO T. WILLIAM PORTER
3701 KIRBY DRIVE, SUITE 112 PORTER & HEDGES, L.L.P.
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77098 700 LOUISIANA, 35TH FLOOR
(713) 512-8300 HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002
(713) 226-0600
-------------------
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
===============================================================================================================
PROPOSED MAXIMUM PROPOSED
AMOUNT TO OFFERING MAXIMUM AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF
TITLE OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED BE REGISTERED PRICE PER SHARE(1) OFFERING PRICE(2) REGISTRATION FEE
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share 500,000 $42.8438 $21,421,900 $6,492.00
===============================================================================================================
</TABLE>
(1) Pursuant to Rule 416(a), also registered hereunder is an indeterminate
number of shares of Common Stock issuable as a result of the
anti-dilution provisions of the Plan.
(2) Pursuant to Rule 457(c), the registration fee is calculated on the
basis of the average of the high and low sale prices for the Common
Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on October 16, 1997, which was
$42.8438. Pursuant to Rule 457(h), the registration fee is calculated
with respect to the maximum number of the registrant's securities
issuable under the Plan.
================================================================================
<PAGE> 2
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The contents of the following documents filed by Veritas DGC Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company or "Registrant"), with the Securities and
Exchange Commission ("Commission") are incorporated into this registration
statement ("Registration Statement") by reference:
(a) the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended July 31, 1997, filed with the Commission on October 20,
1997;
(b) the description of the Company's Common Stock set forth in the
Company's registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the
Commission on August 14, 1997, and any amendment or report
filed for the purpose of updating any such description.
All documents filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to
Section 13(a) and 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") after the filing date of the Registration
Statement and before the filing of a post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement 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 in the Registration Statement and to be part
hereof from the date of filing such documents.
The Company will provide without charge to each participant in the
Company's 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, upon written or oral request of
such persons, a copy (without exhibits, unless such exhibits are specifically
incorporated by reference) of any or all of the documents incorporated by
reference pursuant to this Item 3.
ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
COMMON STOCK
The Company is authorized to issue 40,000,000 shares of Common Stock,
par value $.01 per share, and at July 31, 1997, there were 22,349,111 shares
outstanding, and 1,318,364 shares were reserved for issuance upon exercise of
outstanding warrants and options. Included in shares outstanding are 2,376,071
Exchangeable Shares of Veritas Energy Services, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary
of the Company, which are exchangeable for, and vote with the Common Stock, and
are identical to, the Common Stock in all material respects. Each share of
Common Stock has one vote on all matters presented to the stockholders. Subject
to the rights and preferences of any Preferred Stock (as defined below) which
may be designated and issued, the holders of Common Stock are entitled to
receive dividends, if and when declared by the board of directors, and are
entitled on liquidation to all assets remaining after the payment of
liabilities. The Common Stock has no preemptive or other subscription rights.
Outstanding shares of Common Stock are and the shares of Common Stock offered by
the Company, when issued and paid for, will be fully paid and nonassessable.
Because the Common Stock does not have cumulative voting rights, the holders of
more than 50% of the shares may, if they choose to do so, elect all of the
directors and, in that event, the holders of the remaining shares will not be
able to elect any directors. ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., Dallas,
Texas, is the transfer agent and registrar for the Common Stock.
PREFERRED STOCK
The board of directors of the Company, without any action by the
stockholders of the Company, is authorized to issue up to 1,000,000 shares of
preferred stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock"). Shares of
Preferred Stock may be issued in one or more series or classes, which will have
such designation, voting powers, preferences and relative, participating,
optional or other rights and such qualifications, limitations or restrictions
thereon, including voting rights, dividends, rights on liquidation, dissolution
or winding up, conversion or exchange rights and redemption provisions, as set
forth in the resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the
issuance of such stock and as permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law
(the "DGCL"). A series of 400,000 shares of Preferred Stock
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<PAGE> 3
has been designated for use in connection with the Rights Plan (as defined
below). Although the Company has no other current plans for the possible
issuance of Preferred Stock, the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock, or the
issuance of securities convertible into or exchangeable for such shares, could
be used to discourage an unsolicited acquisition proposal that some or a
majority of the stockholders believe to be in their interests or in which
stockholders are to receive a premium for their stock over the then current
market price. In addition, the issuance of Preferred Stock could adversely
affect the voting power of the holders of Common Stock. The Board of Directors
does not presently intend to seek stockholder approval prior to any issuance of
currently authorized stock, unless otherwise required by law or stock exchange
rules.
RIGHTS PLAN
Pursuant to a Rights Agreement between the Company and ChaseMellon
Shareholder Services, L.L.C., Dallas, Texas (the "Rights Plan"), each share of
Common Stock has attached to it one Right (the "Right"), represented by the
certificate which is also the certificate representing the Common Stock. Each
Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one
one-thousandth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par
value $.01 per share (the "Series A Preferred Stock"), of the Company at a
purchase price of $100, subject to adjustment (the "Purchase Price").
The Rights will separate from the Company's Common Stock and a
"Distribution Date" will occur upon the earlier of (i) 10 business days
following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or
associated persons (an "Acquiring Person") has acquired, or obtained the right
to acquire, beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock (the "Stock Acquisition Date"), or (ii) 10 business days (or such
later date as the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine) following
the commencement of a tender or exchange offer which would result in a person
or group beneficially owning 15% or more of such outstanding shares of Common
Stock (the "Tender Offer Date"). Until the Distribution Date, the Rights will
be transferred with and only with the Common Stock certificates. The Rights
are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and, unless earlier redeemed by
the Company as described below, will expire at the close of business on May 15,
2007.
In the event that, among other things, (i) the Company is the
surviving corporation in a merger or other business combination with an
Acquiring Person or (ii) any person shall become the beneficial owner of more
than 15% of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock (except (A) pursuant to
certain consolidations or mergers involving the Company or sales or transfers
of the combined assets or earning power of the Company and its subsidiaries, or
(B) pursuant to an offer for all outstanding shares of the Common Stock at a
price and upon terms and conditions which a majority of the Continuing
Directors (as defined below) determines to be in the best interests of the
Company and its stockholders) each holder of a Right (other than the Acquiring
Person, certain related parties and transferees) will thereafter have the right
to purchase, upon exercise, a one-thousandth fractional share interest in
Series A Preferred Stock each of which is for all purposes essentially
equivalent to a share of Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash,
property or other securities of the Company) having a value equal to two times
the exercise price of the Right. For example, at the exercise price of $100
per Right, each Right not owned by an Acquiring Person (or by certain related
parties and transferees) following an event set forth above would entitle its
holder to purchase $200 worth of Series A Preferred Stock (or other
consideration, as noted above) for $100. Assuming that the Series A Preferred
Stock had a per share market price of $40 at such time (with each
one-thousandth share of Series A Preferred Stock valued at one share of Common
Stock), the holder of each valid Right would be entitled to purchase 5 shares
of the Series A Preferred Stock for $100. Rights are not exercisable following
the occurrence of any of the events described above until the Rights are no
longer redeemable by the Company as described below. Notwithstanding any of
the foregoing, following the occurrence of any of the events described in this
paragraph, all Rights that are, or (under certain circumstances specified in
the Rights Plan) were, beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person will be null
and void.
In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition Date,
(i) the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination
transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation, (ii) the
Company is the surviving corporation in a consolidation or merger pursuant to
which all or part of the outstanding shares of Common Stock are changed into or
exchanged for stock or other securities of any other person or cash or any
other property or (iii) more than 50% of the combined assets or earning power
of the Company and its subsidiaries is sold or transferred (in each case other
than certain consolidations with, mergers with and into, or sales of assets or
earning power by or to subsidiaries of the Company as specified in the Rights
Agreement), each holder of a Right (except Rights that previously have been
voided as set forth above) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon
exercise, common
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<PAGE> 4
stock of the acquiring company having a value equal to two times the exercise
price of the Right. The events described in this paragraph and in the
immediately preceding paragraph are referred to as the "Triggering Events."
At any time until any person becomes an Acquiring Person, the Company
may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.001 per Right
(payable in cash, shares of Common Stock or other consideration deemed
appropriate by the Board of Directors). Rights may not be redeemed during the
180 day period after any person becomes an Acquiring Person unless the
redemption is approved by a majority of Continuing Directors. The term
"Continuing Director" means any member of the Board of Directors of the Company
who was a member of the Board prior to the date of the Rights Agreement, and
any person who is subsequently elected to the Board if such person is
recommended or approved by a majority of at least five Continuing Directors,
but shall not include an Acquiring Person, or an affiliate or associate of an
Acquiring Person, or any representative of the foregoing persons.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the
right to vote or to receive dividends.
The Rights have certain anti-takeover effects. They may reduce or
eliminate (i) "two-tiered" or other partial offers that do not offer fair value
for all Common Stock; (ii) the accumulation by a third party of 15% or more of
the Common Stock in open-market or private purchases in order to influence or
control the business and affairs of the Company without paying an appropriate
premium for a controlling position in the Company; and (iii) the accumulation
of shares of Common Stock by third parties in market transactions for the
primary purpose of attempting to cause the Company to be sold. In addition,
the Rights will cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts
to acquire the Company in a manner defined as a Triggering Event unless the
offer is conditioned on a substantial number of Rights being acquired. The
Rights, however, should not affect any prospective offeror willing to make an
offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock and other voting securities at
a price and on other terms that are in the best interests of the Company and
its stockholders as determined by the Board of Directors or affect any
prospective offeror willing to negotiate with the Board of Directors because as
part of any negotiated transaction the Rights would either be redeemed or
otherwise made inapplicable to the transaction. The Rights should not
interfere with any merger or other business combination approved by the Board
of Directors since the Board of Directors may, at its option, at any time until
ten business days following the Stock Acquisition Date, redeem all, but not
less than all, of the then outstanding Rights at the $.001 redemption price.
ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL
Not Applicable.
ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Section 145 of the DGCL permits a 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, by reason of the fact that he is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at
the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise
against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid
in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such
action.
In a suit brought to obtain a judgment in the corporation's favor,
whether by the corporation itself or derivatively by a stockholder, the
corporation may only indemnify for expenses, including attorney's fees,
actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or settlement
of the case, and the corporation may not indemnify for amounts paid in
satisfaction of a judgment or in settlement of the claim. In any such action,
no indemnification may be paid in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to
which such persons shall have been adjudged liable to the corporation except as
otherwise provided by the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which the
claim was brought. In any other type of proceeding, the indemnification may
extend to judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement, actually and
reasonably incurred in connection with such other proceeding, as well as to
expenses (including attorneys' fees).
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<PAGE> 5
The statute does not permit indemnification unless the person seeking
indemnification has acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed
to be in, or not opposed to, the best interest of the corporation and, in the
case of criminal actions or proceedings, the person had no reasonable cause to
believe his conduct was unlawful. There are additional limitations applicable
to criminal actions and to actions brought by or in the name of the
corporation. The determination as to whether a person seeking indemnification
has met the required standard of conduct is to be made (i) by a majority vote
of a quorum of disinterested members of the board of directors, or (ii) by
independent counsel in a written opinion, if such a quorum does not exist or if
the disinterested directors so direct, or (iii) by the stockholders.
The Restated Certificate of Incorporation (with Amendments) and Bylaws
of the Company require the Company to indemnify the Company's directors and
officers to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law, and to implement
provisions pursuant to contractual indemnity agreements the Company has entered
into with the directors and executive officers. The Company's Restated
Certificate of Incorporation (with Amendments) limits the personal liability of
a director to the Company or its stockholders to damages for breach of the
director's fiduciary duty.
The Company has purchased insurance on behalf of its directors and
officers against certain liabilities that may be asserted against, or incurred
by, such persons in their capacities as directors or officers of the
registrant, or that may arise out of their status as directors or officers of
the registrant, including liabilities under the federal and state securities
laws.
ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED
Not Applicable.
ITEM 8. EXHIBITS
Exhibit
No. Description
- ------- -----------
4.1* 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
4.2 Restated Certificate of Incorporation (with Amendments) of
Digicon Inc. dated August 30, 1996. (Incorporated by
reference to exhibit 3.1 to Veritas DGC Inc.'s Current Report
on Form 8-K dated September 16, 1996).
4.3 Certificate of Ownership and Merger of New Digicon Inc. and
Digicon Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3-B to
Digicon's Registration Statement No. 33-43873, dated
November 12, 1991).
4.4 By-laws of New Digicon Inc. dated June 24, 1991.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3-C to
Digicon's Registration Statement No. 33-43873, dated
November 12, 1991).
4.5 Specimen Veritas DGC Inc. Common Stock certificate.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4-C to Veritas DGC
Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 31,
1996).
4.6 Rights Agreement between Veritas DGC Inc. and ChaseMellon
Shareholder Services, L.L.C. dated as of May 15, 1997.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Veritas DGC
Inc.'s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 27, 1997).
5.1* Opinion of Porter & Hedges, L.L.P., with respect to the
legality of the securities filed herewith.
23.1* Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP.
23.2* Consent of Price Waterhouse, Chartered Accountants.
23.3* Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
23.4* Consent of Porter & Hedges, L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5.1
Opinion)
24.1* Power of Attorney (included on signature page)
_______________
*Filed herewith
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<PAGE> 6
ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS
A. Undertaking to Update
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement to:
(i) include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3)
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act");
(ii) reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
aggregate represent a fundamental change in the information in the
Registration Statement; and
(iii) include any material information with respect to the
plan for distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration
Statement or any material change to such information in the
Registration Statement.
Provided, however, that paragraph (A)(1)(i) and (A)(1)(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 Registrant pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in
the 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.
(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. Undertaking With Respect to Documents Incorporated by Reference
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 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 therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.
C. Undertaking With Respect to Indemnification
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.
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<PAGE> 7
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints David B. Robson, Stephen J. Ludlow and
Anthony Tripodo, and each of them, either of whom may act without joinder of
the other, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him and his name, place and stead, in any
and all capacities, to sign any or all pre- and post-effective amendments and
supplements to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, or caused to
be filed the same, with all exhibits thereto and all other documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting
unto such 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 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 said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, or the substitute or
substitutes of either of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.
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 Houston, State of Texas on October 21, 1997.
VERITAS DGC INC.
By: /s/ DAVID B. ROBSON
------------------------------------
David B. Robson
Chairman of the Board,
Chief Executive Officer and Director
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 21st day of October 1997.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE TITLE
--------- -----
<S> <C>
/s/ DAVID B. ROBSON Chairman of the Board,
----------------------------- Chief Executive Officer and Director
David B. Robson
/s/ STEPHEN J. LUDLOW President,
----------------------------- Chief Operating Officer and Director
Stephen J. Ludlow
/s/ LAWRENCE C. FICHTNER Executive Vice President,
----------------------------- Corporate Communications and Director
Lawrence C. Fichtner
/s/ ANTHONY TRIPODO Executive Vice President,
----------------------------- Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Anthony Tripodo (principal financial and accounting officer)
Director
-----------------------------
Clayton P. Cormier
/s/ RALPH M. EESON Director
-----------------------------
Ralph M. Eeson
Director
-----------------------------
Steven J. Gilbert
Director
-----------------------------
Brian F. MacNeill
Director
-----------------------------
Douglas B. Thompson
/s/ JACK C. THREET Director
-----------------------------
Jack C. Threet
</TABLE>
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<PAGE> 8
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NO. DESCRIPTION
- -------- -----------
<S> <C>
4.1* 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
4.2 Restated Certificate of Incorporation (with Amendments) of
Digicon Inc. dated August 30, 1996. (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Veritas DGC Inc.'s Current Report
on Form 8-K dated September 16, 1996).
4.3 Certificate of Ownership and Merger of New Digicon Inc. and
Digicon Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3-B to
Digicon's Registration Statement No. 33-43873, dated
November 12, 1991).
4.4 By-laws of New Digicon Inc. dated June 24, 1991.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3-C to Digicon's
Registration Statement No. 33-43873, dated November 12,
1991).
4.5 Specimen Veritas DGC Inc. Common Stock certificate.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4-C to Veritas DGC
Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 31,
1996).
4.6 Rights Agreement between Veritas DGC Inc. and ChaseMellon
Shareholder Services, L.L.C. dated as of May 15, 1997.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Veritas DGC
Inc.'s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 27, 1997).
5.1* Opinion of Porter & Hedges, L.L.P., with respect to the
legality of the securities filed herewith.
23.1* Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP.
23.2* Consent of Price Waterhouse, Chartered Accountants.
23.3* Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
23.4* Consent of Porter & Hedges, L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5.1
Opinion)
24.1* Power of Attorney (included on signature page)
</TABLE>
_________________
*Filed herewith.
-8-
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 4.1
VERITAS DGC INC.
1997 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
(EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 1, 1997)
<PAGE> 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
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<S> <C> <C>
1. Purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2. Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
(a) "Account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
(b) "Base Pay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
(c) "Benefits Representative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
(d) "Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
(e) "Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
(f) "Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
(g) "Common Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
(h) "Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
(i) "Disability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
(j) "Effective Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
(k) "Employee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
(l) "Employer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
(m) "Employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
(n) "Entry Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
(o) "Fiscal Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
(p) "Market Price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
(q) "Participant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
(r) "Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
(s) "Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
(t) "Subsidiary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
3. Eligibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
(a) Eligibility Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
(b) Limitations on Eligibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
4. Shares Subject to the Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
5. Participation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
(a) Payroll Deduction Authorization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
(b) Continuing Effect of Payroll Deduction Authorization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
(c) Employment and Stockholders Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
6. Payroll Deductions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
(a) Participant Contributions by Payroll Deductions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
(b) No Other Participant Contributions Permitted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
(c) Changes in Participant Contributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
</TABLE>
i
<PAGE> 3
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
7. Granting of Option to Purchase Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
(a) Quarterly Grant of Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
(b) Option Price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
8. Exercise of Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
(a) Automatic Exercise of Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
(b) Dividends Generally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
(c) Pro-rata Allocation of Available Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
9. Ownership and Delivery of Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
(a) Beneficial Ownership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
(b) Registration of Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
(c) Delivery of Stock Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
(d) Regulatory Approval. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
10. Withdrawal of Payroll Deductions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
11. Termination of Employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
(a) General Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
(b) Termination Due to Retirement, Death or Disability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
(c) Termination Other Than for Retirement, Death or Disability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
(d) Rehired Employees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
12. Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
13. Administration of the Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
(a) No Participation in Plan by Committee Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
(b) Authority of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
(c) Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
(d) Decisions Binding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
(e) Expenses of Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
(f) Indemnification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
14. Designation of Beneficiary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
15. Transferability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
16. No Rights of Stockholder Until Certificate Issued . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
17. Changes in the Company's Capital Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
18. Plan Expenses; Use of Funds; No Interest Paid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
</TABLE>
ii
<PAGE> 4
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
19. Term of the Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
20. Amendment or Termination of the Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
21. Securities Laws Restrictions on Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
22. Section 16 Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
23. Withholding Taxes for Disqualifying Disposition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
24. No Restriction on Corporate Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
25. Use of Funds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
26. Miscellaneous. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
(a) Options Carry Same Rights and Privileges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
(b) Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
(c) Gender and Tense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
(d) Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
(e) Regulatory Approvals and Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
(f) Severability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
(g) Refund of Contributions on Noncompliance with Tax Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
(h) No Guarantee of Tax Consequences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
(i) Company as Agent for the Employers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
</TABLE>
iii
<PAGE> 5
VERITAS DGC INC.
1997 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
1. PURPOSE. The Veritas DGC Inc. 1997 Employee Stock Purchase
Plan (the "Plan") is intended to provide an incentive for employees of Veritas
DGC Inc. (the "Company") and its participating subsidiaries to acquire or
increase their proprietary interests in the Company through the purchase of
shares of Common Stock of the Company. The Plan is intended to qualify as an
"Employee Stock Purchase Plan" under Sections 421 and 423 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). The provisions of the Plan will
be construed in a manner consistent with the requirements of such sections of
the Code and the regulations issued thereunder.
2. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Plan,
(a) "ACCOUNT" means the account recorded in the records
of the Company established on behalf of a Participant to which the
amount of the Participant's payroll deductions authorized under
Section 6 and purchases of Common Stock under Section 8 shall be
credited, and any distributions of shares of Common Stock under
Section 9 and withdrawals under Section 10 shall be charged.
(b) "BASE PAY" means regular straight-time earnings or
base salary, excluding payments for overtime, shift differentials,
incentive compensation, bonuses, and other special payments, fees,
allowances or extraordinary compensation.
(c) "BENEFITS REPRESENTATIVE" means the employee benefits
department of the Company or any such other person, regardless of
whether employed by an Employer, who has been formally, or by
operation or practice, designated by the Committee to assist the
Committee with the day-to-day administration of the Plan.
(d) "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(e) "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or
any successor thereto, as amended and in effect from time to time.
Reference in the Plan to any Section of the Code shall be deemed to
include any amendments or successor provisions to any Section and any
treasury regulations thereunder.
(f) "COMMITTEE" means the Compensation Committee of the
Board. The Board shall have the power to fill vacancies on the
Committee arising by resignation, death, removal or otherwise. The
Board, in its sole discretion, may bifurcate the powers and duties of
the Committee among one or more separate Committees, or retain all
powers and duties of the Committee in a single Committee. The members
of the Committee shall serve at the discretion of the Board.
<PAGE> 6
(g) "COMMON STOCK" or "STOCK" means the common stock,
$.01 par value per share, of the Company.
(h) "COMPANY" means Veritas DGC Inc., a Delaware
corporation, and any successor thereto.
(i) "DISABILITY" means any complete and permanent
disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
(j) "EFFECTIVE DATE" means November 1, 1997, the
inception date of the Plan.
(k) "EMPLOYEE" means any employee who is currently in
Employment with an Employer.
(l) "EMPLOYER" means the Company, its successors, any
future parent (as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code) and each
current or future Subsidiary which has been designated by the Board or
the Committee as a participating employer in the Plan.
(m) "EMPLOYMENT" means Employment as an employee or
officer by the Company or a Subsidiary as designated in such entity's
payroll records, or by any corporation issuing or assuming rights or
obligations under the Plan in any transaction described in Section
424(a) of the Code or by a parent corporation or a subsidiary
corporation of such corporation. In this regard, neither the transfer
of a Participant from Employment by the Company to Employment by a
Subsidiary, nor the transfer of a Participant from Employment by a
Subsidiary to Employment by the Company, shall be deemed to be a
termination of Employment of the Participant. Moreover, the
Employment of a Participant shall not be deemed to have been
terminated because of absence from active Employment on account of
temporary illness or during authorized vacation, temporary leaves of
absence from active Employment granted by Company or a Subsidiary for
reasons of professional advancement, education, health, or government
service, or during military leave for any period if the Participant
returns to active Employment within 90 days after the termination of
military leave, or during any period required to be treated as a leave
of absence which, by virtue of any valid law or agreement, does not
result in a termination of Employment.
Any worker treated as an independent contractor by the
Employer who is later re-classified as a common- law employee shall
not be in Employment during any period in which such worker was
treated by the Employer as an independent contractor. Any "leased
employee", as described in Section 414(n) of the Code, shall not be
deemed an Employee hereunder.
(n) "ENTRY DATE" means the first day of each Fiscal
Quarter.
2
<PAGE> 7
(o) "FISCAL QUARTER" means a three-consecutive-month
period beginning on each November 1, February 1, May 1, and August 1,
during the period beginning on the Effective Date until the Plan is
terminated.
(p) "MARKET PRICE" means, subject to the next paragraph,
the market value of a share of Stock on any date, which shall be
determined as (i) the closing sales price on the immediately preceding
business day of a share of Stock as reported on the New York Stock
Exchange or other principal securities exchange on which shares of
Stock are then listed or admitted to trading or (ii) if not so
reported, the average of the closing bid and asked prices for a share
of Stock on the immediately preceding business day as quoted on the
National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System
("NASDAQ"), or (iii) if not quoted on NASDAQ, the average of the
closing bid and asked prices for a share of Stock as quoted by the
National Quotation Bureau's "Pink Sheets" or the National Association
of Securities Dealers' OTC Bulletin Board System. If the price of a
share of Stock shall not be so reported pursuant to the previous
sentence, the fair market value of a share of Stock shall be
determined by the Committee in its discretion provided that such
method is appropriate for purposes of an employee stock purchase plan
under Section 423 of the Code.
Notwithstanding the previous paragraph of this definition, the
Market Price of a share of Stock solely for purposes of determining
the option price on the first or last day of the Fiscal Quarter in
accordance with Section 7(b)shall be based on the Market Price on the
first or last day of the Fiscal Quarter, as applicable, and not on the
immediately preceding business day. For example, if the Stock is
traded on the New York Stock Exchange, when determining the option
price under Section 7(b) at which shares of Stock are purchased, the
Market Price for determining this option price shall be based on the
lower of (i) the closing sales price of a share of Stock on the first
business day of the Fiscal Quarter or (ii) the closing sales price of a
share of Stock on the last business day of the Fiscal Quarter.
(q) "PARTICIPANT" means any Employee who meets the
eligibility requirements of Section 3 and who has elected to and is
participating in the Plan.
(r) "PLAN" means the Veritas DGC Inc. 1997 Employee Stock
Purchase Plan, as set forth herein, and all amendments hereto.
(s) "STOCK" means the Common Stock (as defined above).
(t) "SUBSIDIARY" means any domestic or foreign
corporation (other than the Company) (i) which, pursuant to Section
424(f) of the Code, is included in an unbroken chain of corporations
beginning with the Company if, at the time of the granting of the
option, each of the corporations other than the last corporation in
the unbroken chain owns stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more
of the total combined voting power of all classes of capital stock in
one of the other corporations in such chain and (ii) which has been
3
<PAGE> 8
designated by the Board or the Committee as a corporation whose
Employees are eligible to participate in the Plan.
3. ELIGIBILITY.
(a) Eligibility Requirements. Participation in the Plan
is voluntary. Each Employee who has completed at least six (6)
consecutive months of continuous Employment with an Employer
(calculated from his last date of hire to the termination of his
Employment for any reason) and has reached the age of majority in the
jurisdiction of his legal residency, will be eligible to participate
in the Plan on the first day of the payroll period commencing on or
after the earlier of (i) the Effective Date or (ii) the Entry Date on
which the Employee satisfies the aforementioned eligibility
requirements. Each Employee whose Employment terminates and who is
rehired by an Employer shall be treated as a new Employee for
eligibility purposes under the Plan.
(b) Limitations on Eligibility. Any provision of the
Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no Employee will be granted an
option under the Plan:
(i) if, immediately after the grant, the Employee
would own stock, and/or hold outstanding options to purchase
stock, possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total
combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the
Company or of any Subsidiary; or
(ii) which permits the Employee's rights to
purchase stock under this Plan and all other employee stock
purchase plans (within the meaning of Section 423 of the Code)
of the Company and its Subsidiaries to accrue at a rate which
exceeds $25,000 of the fair market value of the stock
(determined at the time such option is granted) for each
Fiscal year in which such option is outstanding at any time,
all as determined in accordance with Section 423(b)(8) of the
Code.
For purposes of Section 3(b)(i) above, pursuant to Section 424(d) of
the Code, (i) the Employee with respect to whom such limitation is
being determined shall be considered as owning the stock owned,
directly or indirectly, by or for his brothers and sisters (whether by
the whole or half blood), spouse, ancestors, and lineal descendants;
and (ii) stock owned, directly or indirectly, by or for a corporation,
partnership, estate, or trust, shall be considered as being owned
proportionately by or for its shareholders, partners, or
beneficiaries. In addition, for purposes of Section 3(b)(ii) above,
pursuant to Section 423(b)(8) of the Code, (i) the right to purchase
stock under an option accrues when the option (or any portion thereof)
first becomes exercisable during the calendar year, (ii) the right to
purchase stock under an option accrues at the rate provided in the
option but in no case may such rate exceed $25,000 of fair market
value of such stock (determined at the time such option is granted)
for any one calendar year, and (iii) a right to purchase stock which
has accrued under one option granted pursuant to the Plan may not be
carried over to any other option.
4
<PAGE> 9
4. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN. The total number of shares of
Common Stock that upon the exercise of options granted under the Plan will not
exceed Five Hundred Thousand (500,000) shares (subject to adjustment as
provided in Section 17), and such shares may be originally issued shares,
treasury shares, reacquired shares, shares bought in the market, or any
combination of the foregoing. If any option which has been granted expires or
terminates for any reason without having been exercised in full, the
unpurchased shares will again become available for purposes of the Plan. Any
shares which are not subject to outstanding options upon the termination of the
Plan shall cease to be subject to the Plan.
5. PARTICIPATION.
(a) Payroll Deduction Authorization. An Employee shall
be eligible to participate in the Plan as of the first Entry Date
following such Employee's satisfaction of the eligibility requirements
of Section 3, or, if later, the first Entry Date following the date on
which the Employee's Employer adopted the Plan. At least 10 days (or
such other period as may be prescribed by the Committee or a Benefits
Representative) prior to the first Entry Date as of which an Employee
is eligible to participate in the Plan, the Employee shall execute and
deliver to the Benefits Representative, on the form prescribed for
such purpose, an authorization for payroll deductions which specifies
his chosen rate of payroll deduction contributions pursuant to Section
6, and such other information as is required to be provided by the
Employee on such enrollment form. The enrollment form shall authorize
the Employer to reduce the Employee's Base Pay by the amount of such
authorized contributions. To the extent provided by the Committee or
a Benefits Representative, each Participant shall also be required to
open a stock brokerage account with a brokerage firm which has been
engaged to administer the purchase, holding and sale of Common Stock
for Accounts under the Plan and, as a condition of participation
hereunder, the Participant shall be required to execute any form
required by the brokerage firm to open and maintain such brokerage
account.
(b) Continuing Effect of Payroll Deduction Authorization.
Payroll deductions for a Participant will commence with the first
payroll period beginning after the Participant's authorization for
payroll deductions becomes effective, and will end with the payroll
period that ends when terminated by the Participant in accordance with
Section 6(c) or due to his termination of Employment in accordance
with Section 11. Payroll deductions will also cease when the
Participant is suspended from participation due to a withdrawal of
payroll deductions in accordance with Section 10. When applicable
with respect to Employees who are paid on a hourly wage basis, the
authorized payroll deductions shall be withheld from wages when
actually paid following the period in which the compensatory services
were rendered. Only payroll deductions that are credited to the
Participant's Account during the Fiscal Quarter will be used to
purchase Common Stock pursuant to Section 8 regardless of when the
work was performed.
5
<PAGE> 10
(c) Employment and Stockholders Rights. Nothing in the
Plan will confer on a Participant the right to continue in the employ
of the Employer or will limit or restrict the right of the Employer to
terminate the Employment of a Participant at any time with or without
cause. A Participant will have no interest in any Common Stock to be
purchased under the Plan or any rights as a stockholder with respect
to such Stock until the Stock has been purchased and credited to the
Participant's Account.
6. PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS.
(a) Participant Contributions by Payroll Deductions. At
the time a Participant files his payroll deduction authorization form,
the Participant will elect to have deductions made from the
Participant's Base Pay for each payroll period such authorization is
in effect in whole percentages at the rate of not less than 1% nor
more than 15% of the Participant's Base Pay.
(b) No Other Participant Contributions Permitted. All
payroll deductions made for a Participant will be credited to the
Participant's Account under the Plan. A Participant may not make any
separate cash payment into such Account.
(c) Changes in Participant Contributions. Subject to
Sections 10 and 22, a Participant may increase, decrease, suspend, or
resume payroll deductions under the Plan by giving written notice to a
designated Benefits Representative at such time and in such form as
the Committee or Benefits Representative may prescribe from time to
time. Such increase, decrease, suspension or resumption will be
effective as of the first day of the payroll period as soon as
administratively practicable after receipt of the Participant's
written notice, but not earlier than the first day of the payroll
period of the Fiscal Quarter next following receipt and acceptance of
such form. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, a Participant may
completely discontinue contributions at any time during a Fiscal
Quarter, effective as of the first day of the payroll period as soon
as administratively practicable following receipt of a written
discontinuance notice from the Participant on a form provided by a
designated Benefits Representative. Following a discontinuance of
contributions, a Participant cannot authorize any payroll
contributions to his Account for the remainder of the Fiscal Quarter
in which the discontinuance was effective.
7. GRANTING OF OPTION TO PURCHASE STOCK.
(a) Quarterly Grant of Options. For each Fiscal Quarter,
a Participant will be deemed to have been granted an option to
purchase, on the first day of the Fiscal Quarter, as many whole and
fractional shares as may be purchased with the payroll deductions (and
any cash dividends as provided in Section 8) credited to the
Participant's Account during the Fiscal Quarter.
6
<PAGE> 11
(b) Option Price. The option price of the Common Stock
purchased with the amount credited to the Participant's Account during
each Fiscal Quarter will be the lower of:
(i) 85% of the Market Price of a share of Stock
on the first day of the Fiscal Quarter; or
(ii) 85% of the Market Price of a share of Stock
on the last day of the Fiscal Quarter.
Only the Market Price as of the first day of the Fiscal
Quarter and the last day of the Fiscal Quarter shall be considered for
purposes of determining the option purchase price; interim
fluctuations during the Fiscal Quarter shall not be considered.
8. EXERCISE OF OPTION.
(a) Automatic Exercise of Options. Unless a Participant
has elected to withdraw payroll deductions in accordance with Section
10, the Participant's option for the purchase of Common Stock will be
deemed to have been exercised automatically as of the last day of the
Fiscal Quarter for the purchase of the number of whole and fractional
shares of Common Stock which the accumulated payroll deductions (and
cash dividends on the Common Stock as provided in Section 8(b)) in the
Participant's Account at that time will purchase at the applicable
option price. Fractional shares may be issued under the Plan. As of
the last day of each Fiscal Quarter, the balance of each Participant's
Account shall be applied to purchase the number of whole and
fractional shares of Stock as determined by dividing the balance of
such Participant's Account as of such date by the option price
determined pursuant to Section 7(b). The Participant's Account shall
be debited accordingly. The Committee or its delegate shall make all
determinations with respect to applicable currency exchange rates when
applicable.
(b) Dividends Generally. Cash dividends paid on shares
of Common Stock which have not been delivered to the Participant
pending the Participant's request for delivery pursuant to Section
9(c), will be combined with the Participant's payroll deductions and
applied to the purchase of Common Stock at the end of the Fiscal
Quarter in which the cash dividends are received, subject to the
Participant's withdrawal rights set forth in Section 10. Dividends
paid in the form of shares of Common Stock or other securities with
respect to shares that have been purchased under the Plan, but which
have not been delivered to the Participant, will be credited to the
shares that are credited to the Participant's Account.
(c) Pro-rata Allocation of Available Shares. If the
total number of shares to be purchased under option by all
Participants exceeds the number of shares authorized under Section 4,
a pro-rata allocation of the available shares will be made among all
Participants authorizing such payroll deductions based on the amount
of their respective payroll deductions through the last day of the
Fiscal Quarter.
7
<PAGE> 12
9. OWNERSHIP AND DELIVERY OF SHARES.
(a) Beneficial Ownership. A Participant will be the
beneficial owner of the shares of Common Stock purchased under the
Plan on exercise of his option and will have all rights of beneficial
ownership in such shares. Any dividends paid with respect to such
shares will be credited to the Participant's Account and applied as
provided in Section 8 until the shares are delivered to the
Participant.
(b) Registration of Stock. Stock to be delivered to a
Participant under the Plan will be registered in the name of the
Participant, or if the Participant so directs by written notice to the
designated Benefits Representative or brokerage firm, if any, prior to
the purchase of Stock hereunder, in the names of the Participant and
one such other person as may be designated by the Participant, as
joint tenants with rights of survivorship or as tenants by the
entireties, to the extent permitted by applicable law. Any such
designation shall not apply to shares purchased after a Participant's
death by the Participant's beneficiary or estate, as the case may be,
pursuant to Section 11(b). If a brokerage firm is engaged by the
Company to administer Accounts under the Plan, such firm shall provide
such account registration forms as are necessary for each Participant
to open and maintain a brokerage account with such firm.
(c) Delivery of Stock Certificates. The Company, or a
brokerage firm or other entity selected by the Company, shall deliver
to each Participant a certificate for the number of shares of Common
Stock purchased by the Participant hereunder as soon as practicable
after the close of each Fiscal Quarter. Alternatively, in the
discretion of the Committee, the stock certificate may be delivered to
a designated stock brokerage account maintained for the Participant
and held in "street name" in order to facilitate the subsequent sale
of the purchased shares.
(d) Regulatory Approval. In the event the Company is
required to obtain from any commission or agency the authority to
issue any stock certificate hereunder, the Company shall seek to
obtain such authority. The inability of the Company to obtain from
any such commission or agency the authority which counsel for the
Company deems necessary for the lawful issuance of any such
certificate shall relieve the Company from liability to any
Participant, except to return to the Participant the amount of his
Account balance used to exercise the option to purchase the affected
shares.
10. WITHDRAWAL OF PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS. At any time during a
Fiscal Quarter, but in no event later than 15 days (or such shorter prescribed
by the Committee or a Benefits Representative) prior to the last day of the
Fiscal Quarter, a Participant may elect to abandon his election to purchase
Common Stock under the Plan. By written notice to the designated Benefits
Representative on a form provided for such purpose, the Participant may thus
elect to withdraw all of the accumulated balance in his Account being held for
the purchase of Common Stock in accordance with Section 8(b). Partial
withdrawals will not be permitted. All such amounts will be paid to the
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<PAGE> 13
Participant as soon as administratively practical after receipt of his notice of
withdrawal. After receipt and acceptance of such withdrawal notice, no further
payroll deductions will be made from the Participant's Base Pay beginning as of
the next payroll period during the Fiscal Quarter in which the withdrawal notice
is received. The Committee, in its discretion, may determine that amounts
otherwise withdrawable hereunder by Participants shall be offset by an amount
that the Committee, in its discretion, determines to be reasonable to help
defray the administrative costs of effecting the withdrawal, including, without
limitation, fees imposed by any brokerage firm which administers such
Participant's Account. After a withdrawal, an otherwise eligible Participant
may resume participation in the Plan as of the first day of the Fiscal Quarter
next following his delivery of a payroll deduction authorization pursuant to the
procedures prescribed in Section 5(a).
11. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) General Rule. Upon termination of a Participant's
Employment for any reason, his participation in the Plan will
immediately terminate.
(b) Termination Due to Retirement, Death or Disability.
If the Participant's termination of Employment is due to (i)
retirement from Employment on or after his attainment of age 65, (ii)
death or (iii) Disability, the Participant (or the Participant's
personal representative or legal guardian in the event of Disability,
or the Participant's beneficiary (as defined in Section 14) or the
administrator of his will or executor of his estate in the event of
death), will have the right to elect, either to:
(1) Withdraw all of the cash and shares of Common
Stock credited to the Participant's Account as of his
termination date; or
(2) Exercise the Participant's option for the
purchase of Common Stock on the last day of the Fiscal Quarter
(in which termination of Employment occurs) for the purchase
of the number of shares of Common Stock which the cash balance
credited to the Participant's Account as of the date of the
Participant's termination of Employment will purchase at the
applicable option price.
The Participant (or, if applicable, such other person designated in
the first paragraph of this Section 11(b)) must make such election by
giving written notice to the Benefits Representative at such time and
in such manner as prescribed from time to time by the Committee or
Benefits Representative. In the event that no such written notice of
election is received by the Benefits Representative within 30 days of
the Participant's termination of Employment date, the Participant (or
such other designated person) will automatically be deemed to have
elected to withdraw the balance in the Participant's Account as of his
termination date. Thereafter, any accumulated cash and shares of
Common Stock credited to the Participant's Account as of his
termination of Employment date will be delivered to or on behalf of
the Participant as soon as administratively practicable.
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<PAGE> 14
(c) Termination Other Than for Retirement, Death or
Disability. Upon termination of a Participant's Employment for any
reason other than retirement, death, or Disability pursuant to Section
11(b), the participation of the Participant in the Plan will
immediately terminate. Thereafter, any accumulated cash and shares of
Common Stock credited to the Participant's Account as of his
termination of Employment date will be delivered to the Participant as
soon as administratively practicable.
(d) Rehired Employees. Any Employee whose Employment
terminates and who is subsequently rehired by an Employer shall be
treated as a new Employee for purposes of eligibility to participate
in the Plan.
12. INTEREST. No interest will be paid or allowed on any money
paid into the Plan or credited to the Account of any Participant.
13. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN.
(a) No Participation in Plan by Committee Members. No
options may be granted under the Plan to any member of the Committee
during the term of his membership on the Committee.
(b) Authority of the Committee. Subject to the
provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the plenary authority
to (a) interpret the Plan and all options granted under the Plan, (b)
make such rules as it deems necessary for the proper administration of
the Plan, (c) make all other determinations necessary or advisable for
the administration of the Plan, and (d) correct any defect or supply
any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any
option granted under the Plan in the manner and to the extent that the
Committee deems advisable. Any action taken or determination made by
the Committee pursuant to this and the other provisions of the Plan
shall be conclusive on all parties. The act or determination of a
majority of the Committee shall be deemed to be the act or
determination of the Committee. By express written direction, or by
the day-to-day operation of Plan administration, the Committee may
delegate the authority and responsibility for the day-to-day
administrative or ministerial tasks of the Plan to a Benefits
Representative, including a brokerage firm or other third party
engaged for such purpose.
(c) Meetings. The Committee shall designate a chairman
from among its members to preside at its meetings, and may designate a
secretary, without regard to whether that person is a member of the
Committee, who shall keep the minutes of the proceedings. Meetings
shall be held at such times and places as shall be determined by the
Committee, and the Committee may hold telephonic meetings. The
Committee may take any action otherwise proper under the Plan by the
affirmative vote of a majority of its members, taken at a meeting, or
by the affirmative vote of all of its members taken without a meeting.
The Committee may authorize any one or more of their members or any
officer of the Company to execute and deliver documents on behalf of
the Committee.
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<PAGE> 15
(d) Decisions Binding. All determinations and decisions
made by the Committee shall be made in its discretion pursuant to the
provisions of the Plan, and shall be final, conclusive and binding on
all persons including the Company, Participants, and their estates and
beneficiaries.
(e) Expenses of Committee. The Committee may employ
legal counsel, including, without limitation, independent legal
counsel and counsel regularly employed by the Company, consultants and
agents as the Committee may deem appropriate for the administration of
the Plan. The Committee may rely upon any opinion or computation
received from any such counsel, consultant or agent. All expenses
incurred by the Committee in interpreting and administering the Plan,
including, without limitation, meeting expenses and professional fees,
shall be paid by the Company.
(f) Indemnification. Each person who is or was a member
of the Committee shall be indemnified by the Company against and from
any damage, loss, liability, cost and expense that may be imposed upon
or reasonably incurred by him in connection with or resulting from any
claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he may be a party or in
which he may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to
act under the Plan, except for any such act or omission constituting
willful misconduct or gross negligence. Such person shall be
indemnified by the Company for all amounts paid by him in settlement
thereof, with the Company's approval, or paid by him in satisfaction
of any judgment in any such action, suit, or proceeding against him,
provided he shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense,
to handle and defend the same before he undertakes to handle and
defend it on his own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification
shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which
such persons may be entitled under the Company's Articles of
Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any
power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them
harmless.
14. DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY. At such time, in such manner, and
using such form as shall be prescribed from time to time by the Committee or a
Benefits Representative, a Participant may file a written designation of a
beneficiary who is to receive any Common Stock and/or cash credited to the
Participant's Account at the Participant's death. Such designation of
beneficiary may be changed by the Participant at any time by giving written
notice to the Benefits Representative at such time and in such form as
prescribed. Upon the death of a Participant, and receipt by the Benefits
Representative of proof of the identity at the Participant's death of a
beneficiary validly designated under the Plan, the Benefits Representative will
take appropriate action to ensure delivery of such Common Stock and/or cash to
such beneficiary. In the event of the death of a Participant and the absence
of a beneficiary validly designated under the Plan who is living at the time of
such Participant's death, the Benefits Representative will take appropriate
action to ensure delivery of such Common Stock and/or cash to the executor or
administrator of the estate of the Participant, or if no such executor or
administrator has been appointed (to the knowledge of the Benefits
Representative), the Committee, in its discretion, may direct delivery of such
Common Stock and/or cash to the spouse or to any one or more dependents of the
Participant as the Committee may
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<PAGE> 16
designate in its discretion. No beneficiary will, prior to the death of the
Participant, acquire any interest in any Common Stock or cash credited to the
Participant's Account.
15. TRANSFERABILITY. No amounts credited to a Participant's
Account, whether cash or Common Stock, nor any rights with regard to the
exercise of an option or to receive Common Stock under the Plan, may be
assigned, transferred, pledged, or otherwise disposed of in any way by the
Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Any
such attempted assignment, transfer, pledge, or other disposition will be void
and without effect.
Each option shall be exercisable, during the Participant's lifetime,
only by the Employee to whom the option was granted. The Company shall not
recognize, and shall be under no duty to recognize, any assignment or purported
assignment by an employee of his option or of any rights under his option.
16. NO RIGHTS OF STOCKHOLDER UNTIL CERTIFICATE ISSUED. With
respect to shares of Stock subject to an option, an optionee shall not be
deemed to be a stockholder, and the optionee shall not have any of the rights
or privileges of a stockholder. An optionee shall have the rights and
privileges of a stockholder when, but not until, a certificate for shares has
been issued to the optionee following exercise of his option.
17. CHANGES IN THE COMPANY'S CAPITAL STRUCTURE. The Board shall
make or provide for such adjustments in the maximum number of shares specified
in Section 4 and the number and option price of shares subject to options
outstanding under the Plan as the Board shall determine is appropriate to
prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants that otherwise
would result from any stock dividend, stock split, stock exchange, combination
of shares, recapitalization or other change in the capital structure of the
Company, merger, consolidation, spin-off of assets, reorganization, partial or
complete liquidation, issuance of rights or warrants to purchase securities,
any other corporate transaction or event having an effect similar to any of the
foregoing.
In the event of a merger of one or more corporations into the Company,
or a consolidation of the Company and one or more corporations in which the
Company shall be the surviving corporation, each Participant, at no additional
cost, shall be entitled, upon his payment for all or part of the Common Stock
purchasable by him under the Plan, to receive (subject to any required action
by shareholders) in lieu of the number of shares of Common Stock which he was
entitled to purchase, the number and class of shares of stock or other
securities to which such holder would have been entitled pursuant to the terms
of the agreement of merger or consolidation if, immediately prior to such
merger or consolidation, such holder had been the holder of record of the
number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of shares purchasable by
the Participant hereunder.
If the Company shall not be the surviving corporation in any
reorganization, merger or consolidation (or survives only as a subsidiary of an
entity other than a previously wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company), or if
the Company is to be dissolved or liquidated or sell substantially all of its
assets or stock to another corporation or other entity , then, unless a
surviving corporation
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<PAGE> 17
assumes or substitutes new options (within the meaning of Section 424(a) of the
Code) for all options then outstanding, (i) the date of exercise for all
options then outstanding shall be accelerated to dates fixed by the Committee
prior to the effective date of such corporate event, (ii) a Participant may, at
his election by written notice to the Company, either (x) withdraw from the
Plan pursuant to Section 10 and receive a refund from the Company in the amount
of the accumulated cash and Stock balance in the Participant's Account, (y)
exercise a portion of his outstanding options as of such exercise date to
purchase shares of Stock, at the option price, to the extent of the balance in
the Participant's Account, or (z) exercise in full his outstanding options as
of such exercise date to purchase shares of Stock, at the option price, which
exercise shall require such Participant to pay the related option price, and
(iii) after such effective date any unexercised option shall expire. The date
the Committee selects for the exercise date under the preceding sentence shall
be deemed to be the exercise date for purposes of computing the option price
per share of Stock. If the Participant elects to exercise all or any portion
of the options, the Company shall deliver to such Participant a stock
certificate issued pursuant to Section 9(d) for the number of shares of Stock
with respect to which such options were exercised and for which such
Participant has paid the option price. If the Participant fails to provide the
notice set forth above within three days after the exercise date selected by
the Committee under this Section 17, the Participant shall be conclusively
presumed to have requested to withdraw from the Plan and receive payment of the
accumulated balance of his Account. The Committee shall take such steps in
connection with such transactions as the Committee shall deem necessary or
appropriate to assure that the provisions of this Section 17 are effectuated
for the benefit of the Participants.
Except as expressly provided in this Section 17, the issue by the
Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares
of stock of any class, for cash or property, or for labor or services either
upon direct sale or upon the exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe
therefor, or upon conversion of shares or obligations of the Company
convertible into such shares or other securities, shall not affect, and no
adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price
of shares of Stock then available for purchase under the Plan.
18. PLAN EXPENSES; USE OF FUNDS; NO INTEREST PAID. The expenses
of the Plan shall be paid by the Company except as otherwise provided herein or
under the terms and conditions of any agreement entered into between the
Participant and any brokerage firm engaged to administer Accounts. All funds
received or held by the Company under the Plan shall be included in the general
funds of the Company free of any trust or other restriction, and may be used
for any corporate purpose. No interest shall be paid to any Participant or
credited to his Account under the Plan.
19. TERM OF THE PLAN. The Plan shall become effective as of
November 1, 1997, subject to approval by the holders of the majority of the
Common Stock present and represented at a special or annual meeting of the
Company's stockholders held on or before 12 months from November 1, 1997.
Except with respect to options then outstanding, if not terminated
sooner under the provisions of Section 20, no further options shall be granted
under the Plan at the earlier of (i) October 31,
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<PAGE> 18
2007, or (ii) the point in time when no shares of Stock reserved for issuance
under Section 4 are available.
20. AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF THE PLAN. The Board shall have
the plenary authority to terminate or amend the Plan; provided, however, that
the Board shall not, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company,
(a) increase the maximum number of shares which may be issued under the Plan
pursuant to Section 4, (b) amend the requirements as to the class of employees
eligible to purchase Stock under the Plan, or (c) permit the members of the
Committee to purchase Stock under the Plan. No termination, modification, or
amendment of the Plan shall adversely affect the rights of a Participant with
respect to an option previously granted to him under such option without his
written consent.
In addition, to the extent that the Committee determines that, in the
opinion of counsel, (a) the listing for qualification requirements of any
national securities exchange or quotation system on which the Company's Common
Stock is then listed or quoted, or (b) the Code or Treasury regulations issued
thereunder, require stockholder approval in order to maintain compliance with
such listing or qualification requirements or to maintain any favorable tax
advantages or qualifications, then the Plan shall not be amended by the Board
in such respect without first obtaining such required approval of the Company's
stockholders.
21. SECURITIES LAWS RESTRICTIONS ON EXERCISE. The Committee may,
in its discretion, require as conditions to the exercise of any option that the
shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of the option
shall have been duly listed, upon official notice of issuance, upon a stock
exchange, and that either:
(a) a Registration Statement under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, with respect to said shares shall be effective; or
(b) the participant shall have represented at the time of
purchase, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, that it
is his intention to purchase the Stock for investment and not for
resale or distribution.
22. SECTION 16 COMPLIANCE. The Plan, and transactions hereunder
by persons subject to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act"), are intended to comply with all applicable
conditions of Rule 16b-3 or any successor exemption provision promulgated under
the Exchange Act. To the extent that any provision of the Plan or any action
by the Committee or the Board fails, or is deemed to fail, to so comply, such
provision or action shall be null and void but only to the extent permitted by
law and deemed advisable by the Committee in its discretion.
23. WITHHOLDING TAXES FOR DISQUALIFYING DISPOSITION. Whenever
shares of Stock that were received upon the exercise of an option granted under
the Plan are disposed of within two years after the date of grant of such
option or one year from the date of exercise of such option (within the
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<PAGE> 19
meaning of Section 423(a)(1)), the Company shall have the right to require the
Participant to remit to the Company in cash an amount sufficient to satisfy
federal, state and local withholding and payroll tax requirements, if any,
attributable to such disposition prior to authorizing such disposition or
permitting the delivery of any certificate or certificates with respect
thereto.
24. NO RESTRICTION ON CORPORATE ACTION. Subject to Section 20,
nothing contained in the Plan shall be construed to prevent the Board or any
Employer from taking any corporate action which is deemed by the Employer to be
appropriate or in its best interest, whether or not such action would have an
adverse effect on the Plan or any option granted under the Plan. No Employee,
beneficiary or other person shall have any claim against any Employer as a
result of any such action.
25. USE OF FUNDS. The Employers shall promptly transfer all
amounts withheld under Section 6 to the Company or to any brokerage firm
engaged to administer Accounts, as directed by the Company. All payroll
deductions received or held by the Company under the Plan may be used by the
Company for any corporate purpose, and the Company will not be obligated to
segregate such payroll deductions.
26. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) Options Carry Same Rights and Privileges. To the
extent required to comply with the requirements of Section 423 of the
Code, all Employees granted options under the Plan to purchase Common
Stock shall have the same rights and privileges hereunder.
(b) Headings. Any headings or subheadings in this Plan
are inserted for convenience of reference only and are to be ignored
in the construction or interpretation of any provisions hereof.
(c) Gender and Tense. Any words herein used in the
masculine shall be read and construed in the feminine when
appropriate. Words in the singular shall be read and construed as
though in the plural, and vice-versa, when appropriate.
(d) Governing Law. This Plan shall be governed and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware to the
extent not preempted by federal law.
(e) Regulatory Approvals and Compliance. The Company's
obligation to sell and deliver Common Stock under the Plan is at all
times subject to all approvals of and compliance with the (i)
regulations of any applicable stock exchanges and (ii) any
governmental authorities required in connection with the
authorization, issuance, sale or delivery of such Stock, as well as
federal, state and foreign securities laws.
(f) Severability. In the event that any provision of
this Plan shall be held illegal, invalid, or unenforceable for any
reason, such provision shall be fully severable, but shall not
15
<PAGE> 20
affect the remaining provisions of the Plan, and the Plan shall be
construed and enforced as if the illegal, invalid, or unenforceable
provision had not been included herein.
(g) Refund of Contributions on Noncompliance with Tax
Law. In the event the Company should receive notice that this Plan
fails to qualify as an "employee stock purchase plan" under Section
423 of the Code, all then-existing Account balances will be paid to
the Participants and the Plan shall immediately terminate.
(h) No Guarantee of Tax Consequences. The Board,
Employer and the Committee do not make any commitment or guarantee
that any tax treatment will apply or be available to any person
participating or eligible to participate in the Plan, including,
without limitation, any tax imposed by the United States or any state
thereof, any estate tax, or any tax imposed by a foreign government.
(i) Company as Agent for the Employers. Each Employer,
by adopting the Plan, appoints the Company and the Board as its agents
to exercise on its behalf all of the powers and authorities hereby
conferred upon the Company and the Board by the terms of the Plan,
including, but not by way of limitation, the power to amend and
terminate the Plan.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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<PAGE> 21
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Plan is hereby executed by a duly authorized
officer of the Company, to be effective as of November 1, 1997.
ATTEST: VERITAS DGC INC.
By: /s/ ALLAN C. POGACH By: /s/ ANTHONY TRIPODO
---------------------------- -----------------------------
Name: Allan C. Pogach Name: Anthony Tripodo
-------------------------- ---------------------------
Title: Secretary Title: Executive Vice President,
-------------------------- Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer
--------------------------
17
<PAGE> 1
[PORTER & HEDGES, L.L.P. LETTERHEAD]
October 21, 1997
Veritas DGC Inc. EXHIBIT 5.1
3701 Kirby Drive, Suite 112
Houston, Texas 77098
Re: VERITAS DGC INC. REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8;
1997 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Veritas DGC Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), in connection with the preparation for filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the
"Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The
Registration Statement relates to an aggregate of 500,000 shares (the "Shares")
of the Company's common stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"),
issuable pursuant to the Company's 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the
"Plan").
We have examined the Plan and such corporate records, documents,
instruments and certificates of the Company, and have reviewed such questions
of law as we have deemed necessary, relevant or appropriate to enable us to
render the opinion expressed herein. In such examination, we have assumed
without independent investigation the authenticity of all documents submitted
to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of
all natural persons, and the conformity of any documents submitted to us as
copies to their respective originals. As to certain questions of fact material
to this opinion, we have relied without independent investigation upon
statements or certificates of public officials and officers of the Company.
Based upon such examination and review, we are of the opinion that the
Shares will, upon issuance and delivery as contemplated by the Plan, be validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable outstanding shares of Common Stock.
This Firm consents to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.
This opinion is conditioned upon the Registration Statement being
declared effective and upon compliance by the Company with all applicable
provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and such state securities
rules, regulations and laws as may be applicable.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Porter & Hedges, L.L.P.
PORTER & HEDGES, L.L.P.
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated September 24, 1997 appearing on page
16 of Veritas DGC Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 31,
1997.
/s/ Price Waterhouse LLP
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
October 21, 1997
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 23.2
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated September 20, 1996 appearing on page
18 of Veritas DGC Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 31,
1997.
/s/ Price Waterhouse
PRICE WATERHOUSE
Chartered Accountants
October 21, 1997
2
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 23.3
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on
Form S-8 dated October 21, 1997, of our report dated October 10, 1996, on the
consolidated balance sheet of Veritas DGC Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company")
as of July 31, 1996, and the related consolidated statements of income, cash
flows and changes in stockholders' equity for each of the two years in the
period ended July 31, 1996, appearing in the Company's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended July 31, 1997.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Houston, Texas
October 21, 1997
