ASTRO MED INC /NEW/
S-8, 1997-03-28
COMPUTER PERIPHERAL EQUIPMENT, NEC
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                                     Registration Statement No. 33-____________
         ===============================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                           --------------------------

                                    FORM S-8
             Registration Statement Under the Securities Act of 1933
                           --------------------------

                                 Astro-Med, Inc.
               (Exact name of issuer as specified in its charter)

       Rhode Island                                              05-0318215
(State or other jurisdic-                                    (I.R.S. Employer
   tion of incorporation)                                  Identification No.)

                            600 East Greenwich Avenue
                           West Warwick, Rhode Island
                                 (401) 828-4000
               (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                 including area code, of registrant's principal
                               executive offices)

                        1993 Incentive Stock Option Plan
                            (Full title of the Plan)

   Joseph P. O'Connell, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
                                 Astro-Med, Inc.
                            600 East Greenwich Avenue
                             West Warwick, RI 02893
                                 (401) 828-4000
                (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone
                number, including area code, of agent for service
                                   of process)

                                    Copy to:

                            Margaret D. Farrell, Esq.
                            Hinckley, Allen & Snyder
                                1500 Fleet Center
                         Providence, Rhode Island 02903
                                 (401) 274-2000

If any of the  securities  being  registered on this form are to be offered on a
delay or continuous  basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933
check the following box. [x]

                                                        Exhibit Index on Page 8


<PAGE>




      ====================================================================
                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
      ====================================================================


Title of
Each Class of    Proposed        Proposed
Securities       Amount          Maximum         Maximum          Amount
to be            to be           Offering Price  Aggregate        Registration
Registered       Registered      Per Share(*)    Offering Price   Fee
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------


Common Stock     250,000         $8.4375         $2,109,375       $639.20
(par value
$.05)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------


(*) Computed  pursuant to Rule 457(h) solely for the purpose of determining  the
registration  fee,  based  on the  average  of the high  and low  prices  of the
Registrant's Common Stock as reported by NASDAQ on March 24, 1997.




<PAGE>


                                     PART II

                   INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS

Item 3.         Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.

        The  following  documents  heretofore  filed  by  Astro-Med,  Inc.  (the
"Registrant")  with the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  pursuant  to the
Securities   Exchange  Act  of  1934,  as  amended  (the  "Exchange   Act")  are
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:

        (a) The  Registrant's  latest  annual  report  on  Form10-K,  or, if the
financial   statements  therein  are  more  current,   the  Registrant's  latest
prospectus,  other than the  prospectus of which this document is a part,  filed
pursuant  to Rule  424(b)  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended  (the
"Securities Act").

        (b) All other reports filed by the Registrant  pursuant to Sections13(a)
or 15(d) of the  Exchange  Act since the end of the fiscal  year  covered by the
annual report or the prospectus referred to in (a) above.

        (c) The  description of the  Registrant's  Common Stock contained in the
Registrant's  Registration Statement filed under Section 12 of the Exchange Act,
including  any  amendment  or reports  filed for the  purpose of  updating  such
description.

        All  documents   subsequently  filed  by  the  Registrant   pursuant  to
Sections13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement which indicates that all
of the shares of Common Stock offered have been sold or which  de-registers  all
of such shares then  remaining  unsold,  shall be deemed to be  incorporated  by
reference in this  Registration  Statement and to be a part hereof from the date
of filing of such documents.  Any statement contained in a document incorporated
or deemed to be incorporated by reference  herein shall be deemed to be modified
or superseded for purposes of this  Registration  Statement to the extent that a
statement  contained  herein or in any other  subsequently  filed document which
also  is or is  deemed  to be  incorporated  by  reference  herein  modifies  or
supersedes  such statement.  Any such statement so modified or superseded  shall
not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Registration Statement.

Item 4. Description of Securities.

        Not applicable.

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

        Certain legal  matters in connection  with the validity of the shares of
Common  Stock  offered  hereby  have  been  passed  upon for the  Registrant  by
Hinckley,  Allen & Snyder,  1500 Fleet Center,  Providence,  Rhode Island 02903.
Jacques V. Hopkins, a partner of Hinckley,  Allen & Snyder, is a Director of the
Registrant.  Margaret D. Farrell, also a partner of Hinckley, Allen & Snyder, is
the Secretary of the Registrant. Attorneys practicing with the firm of Hinckley,
Allen & Snyder collectively own 8,500 shares of the Registrant's Common Stock.

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

     Section  7.1  of the  Rhode  Island  Business  Corporation  Act  authorizes
indemnification of directors and officers of Rhode Island corporations.  Article
IX of the Registrant's  by-laws (i) authorizes the  indemnification of directors
and officers (the  "Indemnified  Persons") under specified  circumstances to the
fullest extent authorized,  (ii) provides for the advancement of expenses to the
Indemnified  Persons for  defending  any  proceedings  related to the  specified
circumstances,  and (iii) gives the Indemnified  Persons the right to bring suit
against the Registrant to enforce the foregoing  rights to  indemnification  and
advancement of expenses. The Registrant currently maintains one or more policies
of insurance  under which the directors and officers of Registrant  are insured,
within the  limits  and  subject to the  limitations  of the  policies,  against
certain  expenses  in  connection  with  the  defense  of  actions,   suits,  or
proceedings,  and certain liabilities which might be imposed as a result of such
actions,  suits or proceedings,  to which they are parties by reason of being or
having been such directors or officers.

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

        Not applicable.

Item 8. Exhibits.

        A list of the exhibits included as part of this  Registration  Statement
is set forth in the Exhibit Index which  immediately  precedes such exhibits and
is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

Item 9. Undertakings.

(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

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

                (i)   To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of
                      the Securities Act;

                (ii)  To reflect in the  prospectus  any facts or events arising
                      after the effective  date of this  Registration  Statement
                      (or the  most  recent  post-effective  amendment  thereof)
                      which,  individually  or in  the  aggregate,  represent  a
                      fundamental  change in the  information  set forth in this
                      Registration  Statement (or the most recent post-effective
                      amendment thereof);

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

         Provided,  however,  that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) shall 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 Section 15(d) of the Exchange
         Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

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

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

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

(c) The  undersigned  Registrant  hereby  undertakes  to  deliver or cause to be
delivered with the prospectus,  to each person to whom the prospectus is sent or
given,  the latest annual  report to security  holders that is  incorporated  by
reference  in  the  prospectus  and  furnished   pursuant  to  and  meeting  the
requirements  of Rule 14a-3 or Rule 14c-3 under the  Exchange  Act;  and,  where
interim  financial  information  required  to  be  presented  by  Article  3  of
Regulation S-X is not set forth in the  prospectus,  to deliver,  or cause to be
delivered  to each person to whom the  prospectus  is sent or given,  the latest
quarterly  report  that  is  specifically   incorporated  by  reference  in  the
prospectus to provide such interim financial information.

(d) 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  provisions  described in Item 6, 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  of 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.


<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of  the  Securities  Act,  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  of  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized, on the 24TH day of March 1997.

                                                ASTRO-MED, INC.

                                                By:   /s/  Albert W. Ondis
                                                      Albert W. Ondis, Chairman
                                                     and Chief Executive Officer

        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE  PRESENTS,  that each of the  undersigned  persons
does  hereby  constitute  and  appoint  Joseph P.  O'Connell  with full power of
substitution his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent for him in his 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
attorney-in-fact  and agent full power and  authority to do and perform each and
every  act and thing  necessary  to be done in order to  effectuate  the same as
fully,  to all intents and purposes,  as he might or could do in person,  hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said  attorney-in-fact  and agent may lawfully
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

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

Signature                             Title                   Date

/s/ Albert W. Ondis                   Chairman (Principal     March 24, 1997
Albert W. Ondis                       Executive Officer)
                                      and Director

/s/ Everett V. Pizzuti                President (Principal    March 24, 1997
- ------------------------------
Everett V. Pizzuti                    Operating Officer)
                                      and Director

/s/ Joseph P. O'Connell               Vice President and      March 24, 1997
Joseph P. O'Connell                   Treasurer (Principal
                                      Financial Officer)

/s/ Arthur Reine                      Controller (Principal   March 24, 1997
- ---------------------------------
Arthur Reine                          Accounting Officer)


<PAGE>



/s/ Jacques V. Hopkins                Director                March 24, 1997
- -----------------------------
Jacques V. Hopkins

/s/ Hermann Viets                     Director                March 24, 1997
Hermann Viets, Ph.D.

/s/ Neil K. Robertson                 Director                March 24, 1997
- ------------------------------
Neil K. Robertson


<PAGE>



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


                                                                    SEQUENTIALLY
EXHIBIT                                                             NUMBERED
NUMBER         EXHIBIT                                              PAGE

4.1            Articles of Incorporation of
               the Registrant, as amended
               (filed as Exhibit No. 3A to
               the Registrant's report on
               Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
               August 1, 1992 and by this
               reference incorporated herein)                       N/A

4.2            By-laws of the Registrant, as
               amended (filed as Exhibit No. 3B
               to the Registrant's report on Form
               10-Q for the quarter ended July 30, 1988
               and by this reference
               incorporated herein)                                 N/A

4.3            1993 Incentive Stock Option Plan
               of Registrant                                        9

5              Opinion of Hinckley, Allen &
               Snyder                                               14

23.1           Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP                       16

23.2           Consent of Hinckley, Allen &
               Snyder (contained in their
               opinion filed as Exhibit 5)                          N/A





                                                                     Exhibit 4.3


This  document  constitutes  a  Prospectus  covering  securities  that have been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933.

                                 ASTRO-MED, INC.
                        1993 INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION PLAN

         1. Purpose.  The purpose of this 1993 Incentive  Stock Option Plan (the
"1993 ISO Plan") is to attract and retain key employees of Astro-Med,  Inc. (the
"Company") and to provide them with  additional  incentive for unusual  industry
and efficiency by offering an opportunity to acquire a proprietary  stake in the
Company and its future growth.  It is the view of the Company that this goal may
best be achieved by granting stock options.

         2. Administration.  The 1993 ISO Plan will be administered by the Stock
Option Committee (the "Committee") of the Board of Directors of the Company (the
"Board") consisting of not less than two members who shall qualify to administer
the 1993 ISO Plan as  contemplated  by Rule  16b-3  under  Section  16(b) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Committee's interpretation of the terms and
provisions hereof shall be final and conclusive. The Committee shall in its sole
discretion  grant options to purchase  shares of the Company's  common stock and
issue shares upon exercise of such options  subject to the terms and  conditions
hereof. No Committee member shall be liable for any action or determination made
in good faith.

         3.  Amount of Stock  Subject to Plan.  The amount of stock which may be
issued under options pursuant to the 1993 ISO Plan is two hundred fifty thousand
(250,000)  shares of the  Company's  $.05 par value  common  stock (the  "common
stock").  If any options  terminate or expire for any reason without having been
exercised  in full,  the shares not  purchased  under the  options  may again be
subjected  to  options  granted  under  the  1993  ISO  Plan to the  extent  not
prohibited by Rule 16b-3.

     4.  Eligibility.  Key employees of the Company or any  subsidiary  shall be
eligible to participate in the 1993 ISO Plan,  except that directors who are not
full time  officers  or  employees  shall not be eligible  to  participate.  Key
employees shall be those employees,  including  officers,  who are deemed by the
Committee  to be of  primary  importance  in  the  operation  of  the  Company's
business. The Committee may in its discretion from time to time grant options to
any or all eligible employees to purchase such number of shares as the Committee
shall determine,  subject to the limitation that except as hereinafter provided,
no option may be granted  hereunder to any employee who, at the time such option
is  granted,  owns stock  possessing  more than ten  percent  (10%) of the total
combined  voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any  subsidiary
or parent. The foregoing  limitation shall not apply if, at the time such option
is granted,  the option price is at least one hundred ten percent  (110%) of the
fair  market  value of the stock  subject to the  option and such  option by its
terms is not  exercisable  after the  expiration of five (5) years from the date
such option is  granted,  or such  shorter  period as may be  determined  by the
Committee,  unless sooner  terminated  under Paragraph 10 or Paragraph 12 below.
Fair market value for this purpose  shall be  determined  at the time and in the
manner set forth in  Paragraph 6 below.  As used in the 1993 ISO Plan,  the term
"subsidiary"  has the meaning  ascribed to "subsidiary  corporation"  by Section
424(f) of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the  "Code"),  and the
term "parent" has the meaning ascribed to "parent  corporation" by Secion 424(e)
of the Code.

     5. Aggregate Annual Limit.  The aggregate fair market value  (determined as
of the  respective  date or dates of grant of an option  hereunder) of the stock
with respect to which options  hereunder  granted (and all other incentive stock
option plans of the Company or any subsidiary or parent) are exercisable for the
first  time by any  employee  during  any one  calendar  year  shall not  exceed
$100,000.  In the event that Section  422(d) of the Code is amended to alter the
limitation set forth therein so that, following such amendment,  such limitation
shall differ from the limitation  set forth herein,  then the limitation of this
Paragraph 5 shall be automatically  amended to conform to the limitation of such
section of the Code.

         6. Option Price and  Payment.  The option price of the shares of common
stock subject to each option will be fixed by the Committee but,  subject to the
limitation  set forth in  Paragraph  4 above,  will not be less than one hundred
percent  (100%) of fair market  value of the common stock  determined  as of the
date of the granting of the option.  Upon the exercise of the option, the option
price may be paid in one or more of the following  ways, as the Committee in its
discretion  determines:  (i) in full in cash; or (ii) by exchanging other shares
of the Company's common stock owned by the owner of such option.  The term "fair
market  value"  shall be deemed to be the mean  between the high and low selling
prices on any exchange on which the stock is listed (or over-the-counter if such
stock is not then  listed on such  exchange),  on the date the option is granted
or, if no sale has taken  place,  the mean  between bid and asked prices on such
date.  However,  if  any  such  method  is  inconsistent  with  any  regulations
applicable  to incentive  stock options  heretofore or hereafter  adopted by the
Commissioner of Internal Revenue, then the fair market value shall be determined
by the Committee in accordance with such regulations.

         7. Term of Option;  Employment  Requirement.  (a) Except as provided in
the limitation set forth in Paragraph 4 above,  the term of each option shall be
ten (10) years,  or such shorter  period as may be determined by the  Committee,
from the date of  grant  of the  option,  unless  sooner  terminated  under  the
provisions of Paragraph 10 or Paragraph 12 below.  All or part of the shares may
be purchased,  subject to the  provisions of Paragraph 10 below,  at any time or
from time to time  during  the term of the  option.  No option  shall be granted
after the termination of the 1993 ISO Plan, but options  theretofore granted may
be exercised thereafter in accordance with their terms and the provisions of the
1993 ISO Plan.

     (b) Except as otherwise  permitted  under Paragraph 10 in the case of death
of the holder of an option, no option will be cxercisablc  unless at the time of
the  exercise  of the  option:  (i) the  holder  thereof  has been  continuously
employed by the Company,  one or more subsidiaries,  or both the Company and one
or more  subsidiaries  for a period of at least one  year,  and (ii) the  holder
thereof is still employed by the Company or one or more subsidiaries;  provided,
however,  that if the holder's  employment  has  terminated not more than ninety
(90) days before the exercise of such option under  circumstances  acceptable to
the  Committee   (whose   determination  in  this  regard  shall  be  final  and
conclusive),  then the option will nevertheless be exercisable during the ninety
(90)  day  period  notwithstanding  termination  of  employment;  and  provided,
further,  that if the holder's  employment  has terminated not more than one (1)
year  before the  exercise  of such  option as a result of the  holder  becoming
disabled (within the meaning of Section  22(e)(3) of the Code),  then the option
will nevertheless be exercisable during such one (1) year period.



<PAGE>


         (c) Military or sick leave not  exceeding  ninety (90) days will not be
deemed to interrupt or terminate  employment  for the purposes of this Paragraph
7.  Whether  military  or sick  leave in  excess  of  ninety  (90) days or other
authorized leave of absence will be deemed to interrupt or terminate  employment
for the purposes of this  Paragraph 7 will be determined by the Committee  whose
determination shall be final and conclusive.

         8. Change of Control.  Unless the Committee determines  otherwise,  all
outstanding  options  shall  become  immediately  exercisable  upon a Change  of
Control  Event.  A Change of Control  Event shall  include  (i) any  purchase of
common  stock  pursuant to a tender  offer or exchange  offer (other than by the
Company),  (ii) a  change  in 30% or more  of the  beneficial  ownership  of the
combined   voting   securities  of  the  Company,   (iii)  approval  by  Company
stockholders of a consolidation, a merger in which the Company does not survive,
or the sale of substantially  all of the Company's  assets,  or (iv) a change in
the  composition  of a majority of the  Company's  Board over a two-year  period
unless the  selection  or  nomination  of each of the new members is approved by
two-thirds  of those  remaining  members  of the Board who were  members  at the
beginning of the two-year period.

         9. Other Terms and  Conditions;  Waivers.  Options will be evidenced by
option  agreements in such form and containing  such terms and conditions as the
Committee may determine  (but not  inconsistent  with the provisions of the 1993
ISO Plan) including, without being limited to, the following:

         (a) Each option will be granted on the  condition  that the purchase of
stock  thereunder will be for investment  purposes and not with a view to resale
or  distribution,  except that such  condition  will be inoperative if the stock
subject  to such  option is  registered  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as
amended,  or if in the  opinion of  counsel  for the  Company  such stock may be
resold without registration;

         (b) No option will be transferable by the holder thereof otherwise than
by will or by the laws of descent  and  distribution,  and such  option  will be
exercisable during the lifetime of the holder thereof only by the holder; and

         (c) The Committee, in particular cases, before or after the issuance of
stock options under the 1993 ISO Plan, may waive any of the  conditions  imposed
by the  1993 ISO Plan  upon the  issuance  or  exercise  of  options;  provided,
however,  that no such waiver  shall be made which  would cause any  outstanding
incentive  stock option to fail to qualify as an incentive  stock option  within
the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

         10.  Termination  of  Employment  upon Death.  In the event an eligible
employee dies while in the employ of the Company or any subsidiary,  and at such
time such employee  holds  options  under the 1993 ISO Plan,  his or her options
shall end automatically six (6) months after such death,  unless sooner ended by
their terms.  Prior to the  expiration of such six (6) month period,  during the
term of such  options,  the  executor  or  administrator  of the  estate of such
eligible employee shall have the right to Exercise any option previously granted
to such employee hereunder.

     11. Readjustment of Stock or Recapitalization. Upon any Recapitalization or
readjustment of the Company's capital stock whereby the character of the present
common stock shall be changed,


<PAGE>


appropriate  adjustments  shall be made so that the stock to be purchased  under
the 1993 ISO Plan shall be the equivalent of the present common stock after such
readjustment or  Recapitalization.  In the event of a subdivision or combination
of the shares of common stock, the Board will  proportionately  adjust number of
shares that may be optioned  and sold to  eligible  employees  and the number of
shares which are the subject of outstanding  options and the price therefor.  In
case of  reclassification  or other change in the shares of common  stock,  such
action  will be taken as in the opinion of the Board will be  appropriate  under
the circumstances.  Accordingly,  in such cases the maximum number of authorized
but unissued shares, or shares held as treasury stock,  which are subject to the
1993 ISO Plan may be  adjusted  by the Board  without  stockholder  or any other
action.

         12. Sale of Assets,  Stock Exchange,  etc. If the Board recommends that
the  Company  sell  substantially  all of its  assets,  or that the  holders  of
substantially  all of the shares of  outstanding  stock sell or  exchange  their
shares to or with any person, firm or corporation,  or that the Company merge or
consolidate  with another  corporation,  or that the Company be  liquidated  and
dissolved, then in any such event, the Committee may by notice in writing mailed
or  delivered  to each  holder of an  outstanding  option set a date (which date
shall be not less than sixty (60) days from the date of mailing or delivering of
such  written  notice)  on or  before  which  such  outstanding  options  may be
exercised,  and all such outstanding options which have not been exercised on or
before such date will thereafter expire and be of no further force and effect.

         13. Term of the Plan.  The 1993 ISO Plan shall become  effective on the
date  of  its  approval  by  the  stockholders,   and  subsequent  adoption  and
ratification by the Board,  and shall continue in effect until the expiration of
ten (10) years from the date of such approval by the stockholders  unless sooner
terminated as provided  herein.  The powers of the Committee  shall  continue in
effect after the termination of the 1993 ISO Plan,  until exercise or expiration
of all options then outstanding.

         14. Amendment and Termination. The Board at any time may amend, suspend
or terminate the 1993 ISO Plan. No action of the Board, however, may without the
written  consent of the holder,  alter or impair any option  previously  granted
under the 1993 ISO Plan  (except  pursuant to Paragraph 11 or Paragraph 12 above
or Paragraph 16 below). In addition, except as provided in the 1993 ISO Plan, no
action or the Board may, unless duly approved by the shareholders,  (i) increase
the  maximum  number of shares  subject  to the 1993 ISO Plan;  (ii)  change the
option price or the manner of  determining  the option  price;  (iii) extend the
period within which options may be granted;  (iv) extend the termination date of
the 1993 ISO Plan; (v) permit participation by directors who arc not officers or
employees;  or (vi)  change  the  aggregate  annual  limit  provided  for  under
Paragraph 5 above.

     15.  Obligation of the Company to Issue Shares.  Notwithstanding  any other
provision of the 1993 ISO Plan,  the Company shall not be obligated to issue any
shares pursuant to any stock option unless or until:

     (a) the shares  with  respect to which the option is being  exercised  have
been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or are exempt from
such registration;




<PAGE>


     (b) the prior  approval of such sale or issuance has been obtained from any
state regulatory body having jurisdiction; and

     (c) in the  event the stock  has been  listed  on any stock  exchange,  the
shares with respect to which the option is being exercised have been duly listed
on such exchange in accordance with the procedure specified therefor.

         16. Qualifying  Amendments.  Notwithstanding any other provision hereof
to the contrary, the Board shall have the right to amend or modify the terms and
provisions  of the 1993 ISO Plan,  and any Option  previously  granted under the
1993 ISO  Plan may be  amended  or  modified  by the  Committee,  to the  extent
necessary to qualify any or all such options for such  favorable  federal income
tax treatment  (including deferral of taxation upon exercise) as may be afforded
employee stock options under Section 422 or any successor provision of the Code.





                                                                       Exhibit 5


                                                        March 24, 1997



Astro-Med, Inc.
600 East Greenwich Avenue
West Warwick, Rhode Island 02893

         RE:      Registration Statement on Form S-8

Gentlemen:

     We have acted as counsel to  Astro-Med,  Inc., a Rhode  Island  corporation
(the "Company"),  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  relating to 250,000 shares of the Company's  common stock,
par value $.05 per share (the  "Common  Stock"),  to be issued  pursuant  to the
Astro-Med, Inc. 1993 Incentive Stock Option Plan (the "Plan").

         In  connection  with  this  opinion,  we have  examined  the  Company's
Articles  of  Incorporation,   the  bylaws  of  the  Company,  as  amended,  the
Registration  Statement,  corporate  proceedings of the Company  relating to the
issuance of the Common Stock, the Plan and such other  instruments and documents
as we have deemed relevant under the circumstances.

         In making the aforesaid examination, we have assumed the genuineness of
all signatures and the conformity to original  documents of all copies furnished
to us as original or photostatic copies. We have also assumed that the corporate
records  furnished  to us by  the  Company  include  all  corporate  proceedings
regarding the issuance of the Common Stock taken by the Company to date.

         Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the
Common  Stock which may be issued  under the Plan has been duly  authorized  and
when  issued in  accordance  with the terms of the Plan will be validly  issued,
fully paid and non-assessable.



<PAGE>


         We hereby  consent to the use of our  opinion as herein set forth as an
exhibit  to the  Registration  Statement.  This  opinion is  rendered  to you in
connection with the  Registration  Statement,  and except as consented to in the
preceding  sentence,  may not be relied upon or furnished to any other person in
any context.  In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within
the  category  of persons  whose  consent  is  required  under  Section 7 of the
Securities  Act of 1933 or the  rules  and  regulations  of the  Securities  and
Exchange Commission thereunder.

                                                   Very truly yours,


                                                   /s/ Hinckley, Allen & Snyder

                                                                   Exhibit 23.1





                               ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP







                    Consent of Independent Public Accountants






As independent  public  accountants,  we hereby consent to the  incorporation by
reference in this  registration  statement  of our reports  dated March 15, 1996
included in Astro-Med,  Inc.'s Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 1996 and
to all references to our Firm included in this registration statement.



                                                        /s/ Arthur Andersen LLP



Boston, Massachusetts

March 21, 1997



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