ADVANCED PHOTONIX INC
S-8, 2000-01-25
SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES
Previous: PUTNAM INTERMEDIATE US GOVT INCOME FUND, NSAR-B, 2000-01-25
Next: ADVANCED PHOTONIX INC, 4, 2000-01-25





                                               Registration No. 333-___________

                                    FORM S-8
                             Registration Statement
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                             ADVANCED PHOTONIX, INC.

                  Incorporated pursuant to the laws of Delaware

                   IRS Employer Identification No. 33-0325826

                               1240 Avenida Acaso
                           Camarillo, California 93012
                                 (805) 987-0146

                             Advanced Photonix, Inc.
             Non-Qualified Stock Option issued to Bernhardt Denmark

                   Patrick J. Holmes, Executive Vice President
                             Advanced Photonix, Inc.
                               1240 Avenida Acaso
                           Camarillo, California 93012
                                 (805) 987-0146

                                   Copies to:
                              Landey Strongin, Esq.
                   Dornbush Mensch Mandelstam & Schaeffer, LLP
                                747 Third Avenue
                            New York, New York 10017
                                 (212) 759-3300

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                            Proposed Maximum        Proposed
                                    Proposed Amount of     Offering Price Per       Aggregate         Amount of
  Title of each Class of          Securities to be             Share(1)          Maximum Offering   Registration Fee
Securities to be Registered           Registered                                  Price(1)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                    <C>                       <C>                <C>                <C>

Non-Qualified Stock Option             400,000 Shs.              $2.25              $900,000           $237.60
issued to Bernhardt Denmark
Class A Common Stock, $.001 par
value
<FN>

- -----------------------------
(1) Estimated  pursuant to Rule 457(h)(1) solely for purposes of calculating the
registration  fee. As all shares are subject to an outstanding  but  unexercised
option, the price is computed on the basis of the exercise price of such option.
</FN>
</TABLE>


<PAGE>



                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
         ----------------------------------------

         The  following   documents  filed  by  Advanced  Photonix,   Inc.  (the
"Registrant")  with the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  pursuant  to the
Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934  are  incorporated  into  this  Registration
Statement by reference:

     1.   The Registrant's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
          March 28, 1999.

     2.   The  Registrant's  Quarterly  Reports  on Form  10-Q  for  the  fiscal
          quarters ended June 29, 1999 and September 26, 1999.

     3.   The description of the Company's Class A Common Stock contained in the
          Company's  Registration  Statement on Form 8-A dated January 16, 1991,
          filed under the Exchange Act,  including any amendment or report filed
          for the purpose of updating such description.

     4.   All  documents  filed by the  Registrant  pursuant  to Section  13(a),
          13(c),  14 and 25(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 after the
          date of this  Registration  Statement  and  prior to the  filing  of a
          post-effective   amendment  to  this   Registration   Statement  which
          indicates that all  securities  offered hereby have been sold or which
          deregisters all securities 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 such  documents.  Any  statement
          contained  in a document  incorporated  by  reference  herein shall be
          deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes  hereof to the extent
          that a statement  (which also is  incorporated  by  reference  herein)
          modifies or supersedes  such  statement.  Any statement so modified or
          superseded  shall not be deemed to  constitute a part hereof except as
          so modified or superseded.

Item 4.  Description of Securities

         Not applicable.

Item 5.  Interests of Named Expert and Counsel

         Not applicable.

                                      II-1

<PAGE>


Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers

         The  Company's  Certificate  of  Incorporation   contains  a  provision
permitted by Delaware law that generally  eliminates  the personal  liability of
directors for monetary  damages for breaches of their fiduciary duty,  including
breaches  involving  negligence or gross  negligence  in business  combinations,
unless the  director  has  breached  his duty of loyalty,  failed to act in good
faith,  engaged in intentional  misconduct or a knowing violation of law, paid a
dividend or approved a stock  repurchase  in violation  of the Delaware  General
Corporation Law or obtained an improper  personal  benefit.  This provision does
not alter a director's  liability under the federal  securities  laws. Also this
provision does not affect the  availability  of equitable  remedies,  such as an
injunction or rescission, for breach of fiduciary duty.

         The Company's By-Laws also provide that directors and officers shall be
indemnified  against  liabilities  arising  from their  service as  directors or
officers to the fullest extent  permitted by law, which generally  requires that
the individual  act in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably  believes
to be in or not opposed to the Company's best interests.

Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed

         Not applicable.

Item 8.  Exhibits

         The  following   exhibits  are  filed  as  part  of  this  Registration
Statement.

    3.1   Certificate  of  Incorporation   of  the  Registrant,   as  amended  -
          incorporated   by  reference  to  Exhibit  3.1  to  the   Registrant's
          Registration  Statement  on Form S-1,  filed with the  Securities  and
          Exchange Commission on November 23, 1990.

    3.1.1 Amendment to Certificate of  Incorporation  of the  Registrant,  dated
          October 29, 1992 - incorporated by reference to the Registrant's March
          31, 1996 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

    3.1.2 Amendment to Certificate  of  Incorporation  of the  Registrant  dated
          September 9, 1992 -  incorporated  by  reference  to the  Registrant's
          March 31, 1996 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

    3.2   By-Laws of the  Registrant,  as amended - incorporated by reference to
          the Registrant's March 31, 1996 Annual Report on Form 10-K,

    5.1   Opinion of Dornbush Mensch Mandelstam & Schaeffer, LLP.

                                      II-2

<PAGE>


     10.1 Non-Qualified  Stock  Option  granted by  Advanced  Photonix,  Inc. to
          Bernhardt Denmark on May 16, 1995.

     23.1 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, independent accountants.

     23.2 Consent of Dornbush Mensch Mandelstam & Schaeffer,  LLP - incorporated
          by reference herein to Exhibit 5.1.

     24.  Powers of Attorney - (included in Part II to Registration Statement).

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 to include
any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously
disclosed  in  the  Registration  Statement  or  any  material  change  to  such
information in the Registration Statement.

                  (2) That, for the purpose of determining  any liability  under
the Securities Act of 1933, 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 of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's  annual  report  pursuant to Section  13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934  (and,  where  applicable,  each  filing of an
employee  benefit  plan's  annual  report  pursuant  to  Section  15(d)  of  the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934)  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 an initial bona fide offering thereof.

                                      II-3
<PAGE>


         (c)  Insofar  as  indemnification  for  liabilities  arising  under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors,  officers and  controlling
persons of the Registrant  pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  or otherwise,
the  Registrant  has been  advised  that in the  opinion of the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission such  indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the  Securities  Act and is,  therefore,  unenforceable.  In the event that a
claim for  indemnification  against such liabilities  (other than the payment by
the  Registrant  of  expenses  incurred  or  paid  by  a  director,  officer  or
controlling  person of the Registrant in the  successful  defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director,  officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered,  the Registrant will, unless
in the  opinion  of its  counsel  the matter  has been  settled  by  controlling
precedent,  submit to a court of appropriate  jurisdiction  the question whether
such  indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                    PART III

                        SIGNATURES AND POWER OF ATTORNEY

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities Act of 1933,  Advanced
Photonix, Inc. 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 Camarillo,  State of California, on January 21,
2000.

                                           ADVANCED PHOTONIX, INC.



                                           By: /s/Brock Koren
                                           Brock Koren
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer

         KNOW  ALL MEN BY THESE  PRESENTS,  that  each  person  whose  signature
appears below  constitutes  and appoints Brock Koren and Patrick J. Holmes,  and
each of them, his true and lawful place and stead, in any and all capacities, to
sign any and all  amendments  to this  Registration  Statement,  and to file the
same, with all exhibits  thereto,  and other  documents in connection  herewith,
with  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, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or
cause to be done by virtue thereof.

                                      II-4
<PAGE>


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

Signature             Title                                              Dated



/s/Brock Koren        President and Chief Executive Officer
- --------------
Brock Koren                                                     January 21, 2000




/s/ Hayden Leason     Chairman of the Board
- -----------------
Hayden Leason                                                   January 21, 2000




/s/ M. Scott Fatese   Director
- -------------------
M. Scott Farese                                                 January 21, 2000




/s/ P. J. Holmes      Executive Vice President & Chief Financial
- ----------------      Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting
Patrick J. Holmes     Officer)                                  January 21, 2000


                                      II-5



                                                                 Exhibit 5.1

           [LETTERHEAD OF DORNBUSH MENSCH MANDELSTAM & SCHAEFFER, LLP]

                                January 21, 2000

Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C.  20549

                           Advanced Photonix, Inc.
                           Registration Statement on Form S-8

Gentlemen:

         We  have  been  requested  by  Advanced  Photonix,   Inc.,  a  Delaware
corporation (the  "Company"),  to furnish you with our opinion as to the matters
hereinafter  set  forth  in  connection  with the  above-captioned  registration
statement (the "Registration Statement") covering an aggregate of 400,000 shares
(the  "Shares")  of the  Company's  Class A Common  Stock,  par value  $.001,  a
Non-Qualified  Stock Option granted to Mr. Bernhart Denmark on May 16, 1995 (the
"Option").

         In  connection  with  this  opinion,  we have  examined  the  Company's
Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws,  the Option,  copies of the records of
corporate proceedings of the Company, and such other documents as we have deemed
necessary to enable us to render the opinion hereinafter expressed.

         Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the
Shares,  when issued and paid for in accordance with the Option, will be legally
issued, fully-paid and non-assessable.

         We render no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction  other than the
internal  laws of the State of New York and the  internal  corporate  law of the
State of Delaware.

         We hereby  consent  to the use of this  opinion  as an  exhibit  to the
Registration Statement.

                                                              Very truly yours,


                 /s/ Dornbush Mensch Mandelstam & Schaeffer, LLP

                     Dornbush Mensch Mandelstam & Schaeffer, LLP






                           NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION

THIS NON-QUALIFIED  STOCK OPTION (the "Option") is granted this 16th day of May,
1995, by ADVANCED  PHOTONIX,  INC., a Delaware  corporation (the "Company"),  to
BERNHARDT DENMARK (the "Optionee").

                                               W I T N E S S E T H:
1. Grant. The Company hereby grants to the Optionee an Option to purchase on the
terms and conditions  hereinafter  set forth all or part of an aggregate of Four
Hundred  Thousand  (400,000)  shares of the Company's Class A Common Stock,  par
value $.001 per share, (the "Option Shares"), at the purchase price of $2.25 per
share (the "Option Price"), subject to adjustment as provided herein.

2. Term. The Option granted  hereunder shall expire in all events five (5) years
from the date hereof.

3.  Time of  Exercise.  The  Option  shall be  immediately  exercisable  in full
commencing  on the date of  grant,  except  that the  Option  may in no event be
exercised (i) with respect to fractional  shares or (ii) after expiration of the
Option term specified  under  Paragraph 2 hereof.

4. No Rights as Stockholder until Exercise.

                                      - 1 -
<PAGE>

Optionee shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to Shares subject to
this Agreement  until a stock  certificate  therefor has been issued to Optionee
and is fully paid for.

5. Transfers.  The Option is not transferable by the Optionee  otherwise than by
will or  pursuant to the laws of descent  and  distribution  in the event of the
Optionee's  death,  in which event the Option may be  exercised  for the term of
this agreement by the heirs or legal representatives of the Optionee. The Option
may be exercised  during the lifetime of the Optionee only by the Optionee.  Any
attempt at assignment, transfer, pledge or disposition of the Option contrary to
the provisions hereof or the levy of an execution, attachment or similar process
upon the Option shall be null and void and without  effect.  Any exercise of the
Option by a person other than the Optionee  shall be  accompanied by appropriate
proofs of the right of such person to exercise the Option.

6. Method of Exercise  and  Payment.  When  exercisable  under  Paragraph 3, the
Option may be exercised  by written  notice,  pursuant to  Paragraph  13, to the
Company's  Secretary or Treasurer  specifying  the number of Option Shares to be
purchased  and,  unless  the  Option  Shares  are  covered  by  a  then  current
registration statement or a Notification under Regulation A under


                                      - 2 -
<PAGE>

the   Securities   Act  of  1933  (the   "Act"),   containing   the   Optionee's
acknowledgement,  in form and substance satisfactory to the Company,  certifying
that the Optionee (a) is purchasing  such Option Shares for investment  purposes
only and not for  distribution  or resale (other than a  distribution  or resale
which,  in the  opinion  of counsel  satisfactory  to the  Company,  may be made
without  violating  the  registration  provisions  of the  Act) and (b) has been
advised and  understands  that (i) the Option  Shares  have not been  registered
under the Act and are  "restricted  securities"  within the  meaning of Rule 144
under the Act and are subject to  restrictions  on transfer;  and (ii) except as
expressly  provided  herein,  the Company is under no obligation to register the
Option Shares under the Act or to take any action which would make  available to
the  Optionee  any  exemption  from  such  registration.  The  notice  shall  be
accompanied  by payment in full of the Option  Price of the Option  Shares being
purchased.  Payment  shall be in cash or by  certified or cashiers  check.  Such
exercise shall be effective  upon the actual receipt by the Company's  Secretary
or Treasurer of such written notice and payment.

7.  Adjustment  on Changes  in Common  Stock.  In the  event,  that prior to the
delivery by the Company of all of the


                                      - 3 -
<PAGE>

Option  Shares in  respect  of which the Option is  granted,  there  shall be an
increase  or  decrease  in the  number of issued  shares of Common  Stock of the
Company as a result of a subdivision or consolidation of shares or other capital
adjustment,  or the payment of a stock dividend or other increase or decrease in
such shares,  effected  without  receipt of  consideration  by the Company,  the
remaining  number of Option  Shares  still  subject to the Option and the Option
Price  therefor  shall  be  adjusted  in a  manner  determined  by the  Board of
Directors  of the Company so that the adjusted  number of Option  Shares and the
adjusted  Option  Price  shall be the  substantial  equivalent  of the number of
Option Shares  subject to the Option and the Option Price  therefor  immediately
prior to such change.  For purposes of this  Paragraph,  no adjustment  shall be
made as a result of the  issuance of Common Stock upon the  conversion  of other
securities  of the Company  which are  convertible  into the Common  Stock.  The
decision of the Board of Directors shall be final and binding.

8. Reorganization,  Consolidation, Mergers. In case of any reorganization of the
Company,  or any other  corporation  the stock or securities of which are at the
time deliverable on the exercise of this Option,  or in case the Company or such
other corporation shall consolidate with or merge into another


                                      - 4 -
<PAGE>

corporation,  the Optionee, upon the exercise of this Option thereafter and upon
payment of the Option Price, shall be entitled to receive, in lieu of the Option
Shares called for hereby, the securities and/or other property  (including cash)
to which the Optionee  would have been  entitled upon the  consummation  of such
reorganization, consolidation or merger if the Optionee had purchased the Option
Shares  called for  hereby  immediately  prior  thereto,  and in such case,  the
provisions  of this Option shall be applicable  to the  securities  and/or other
property thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of this Option.

9. Legal  Requirements.  If the listing,  registration or  qualification  of the
Option Shares upon any securities exchange or under any federal or state law, or
the consent or approval of any  governmental  regulatory  body is necessary as a
condition  of or in  connection  with the  purchase of such Option  Shares,  the
Company shall not be obligated to issue or deliver the certificates representing
the Option  Shares as to which the Option  has been  exercised  unless and until
such listing, registration,  qualification,  consent or approval shall have been
effected or obtained.  If registration is considered  unnecessary by the Company
or its  counsel,  the  Company  may place a legend on the  Option  Shares  being
issued, calling attention to the fact


                                      - 5 -
<PAGE>

that they have been acquired for investment and have not been registered.

10.      Registration Rights.
(a)  During  the period  commencing  on the date  hereof and ending on the tenth
anniversary of the date hereof,  the Company shall give the Optionee thirty (30)
days prior written notice of its intention to engage in a registration of Common
Stock under the Federal  securities  laws (other than a  registration  of Common
Stock in connection with any stock plan, stock purchase plan, savings or similar
plan,  or an  acquisition,  merger or  exchange  of stock),  and shall  offer to
include the Option  Shares  (which,  for  purposes of this  Paragraph  10, shall
include  shares issued as a stock  dividend or stock split on the Option Shares)
in such registration.  At the written request of the Optionee, the Company shall
include  the  Option  Shares (or such  portion  of the  Option  Shares as may be
requested by the Optionee) in the  registration  statement;  provided,  however,
that if, in the reasonable judgment of the managing  underwriter,  if any (which
underwriter shall be in all cases a nationally  recognized  underwriting  firm),
the inclusion of the Option Shares would materially  adversely affect the public
offering of the Common Stock, the number of Option Shares to be registered shall

                                      - 6 -
<PAGE>

be reduced,  pro rata,  together with the shares of other shareholders to whom a
similar  registration  right also has been granted by the  Company,  so that the
public offering shall not be materially adversely affected.

(b)  During  the period  commencing  on the date  hereof and ending on the tenth
anniversary  of the date hereof,  the  Optionee  shall have the right to request
that the  Company  register  the Option  Shares  (or such  portion of the Option
Shares as may be requested by the Optionee) under the Federal securities laws by
giving written  notice of such request to the Company.  Upon the receipt of such
request, and provided that sufficient  financial  statements are available,  the
Company  shall  promptly,  but no  later  than  120 days  after  receipt  of the
Optionee's  request,  cause  a  registration  statement  to be  filed  with  the
Securities and Exchange  Commission,  and shall commence to use its best efforts
to case such registration statement to be declared effective.  The right granted
to the Optionee under this subparagraph  10(b) to request  registration shall be
exercisable only on one occasion unless the registration  statement covering the
Option Shares is for whatever  reason not declared  effective by the  Securities
and  Exchange  Commission,  in which case the  undersigned  shall be entitled to
exercise his right to request


                                      - 7 -
<PAGE>

registration hereunder until a registration statement with
respect to the Option Shares is declared effective.

(c) The Company  shall bear the costs and  expenses of any  registration  of the
Option  Shares under  subparagraphs  10(a) and 10(b) on such number of occasions
during  the  period  that  such  registration  may be  sought  by the  Optionee;
provided,  however,  that  the  Optionee  shall  bear  the  cost of fees for the
Optionee's  counsel,  and any registration fees,  transfer taxes or underwriting
discounts and commissions applicable to the Option Shares sold hereunder.

(d) Whenever the Company shall register any of the Option Shares pursuant to any
of the  provisions  of this  Paragraph  10, the Company shall also be obligated,
with the cost of performing such obligation to be incurred by the Company, to do
the following:

(i)  Prepare  for  filing  with the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  such
amendments  and  supplements to said  registration  statement and the prospectus
used in  connection  therewith  as may be  necessary  to keep said  registration
statement effective and to comply with the provisions of the Act with respect to
the sale of the Option  Shares  covered by said  registration  statement for the
period necessary to complete the


                                      - 8 -
<PAGE>

proposed  offering of the Option  Shares,  which period shall be no greater than
one year from the date of effectiveness of the registration statement;

(ii) Furnish to the Optionee such copies of preliminary  and final  prospectuses
and such other  documents as the Optionee may  reasonably  request to facilitate
the offering of the Option Shares;

(iii) Use reasonable efforts to register or qualify the Option Shares covered by
the  registration  statement  under  the  securities  or blue  sky  laws of such
jurisdictions  as the  Optionee  may  reasonably  request and at the  Optionee's
expense; provided, however, that the Company will not be required to (A) qualify
generally to do business in any jurisdiction  where it would not be required but
for this clause (iii); (B) subject itself to taxation in such jurisdiction;  (C)
consent to general service of process in jurisdiction; (D) register in any state
requiring  as a  condition  to such  registration,  escrow or  surrender  or any
securities of any security holder; and (E) incur expenses in excess of $2,000 in
connection with such registration or qualification;

(iv) Furnish to the Optionee an opinion of counsel for the Company for inclusion
as an exhibit to the


                                      - 9 -
<PAGE>

registration  statement  pursuant to the requirements of the Act and a letter or
letters of the independent  certified public  accountants of the Company in form
and substance customary for similar offerings;

(v)  Permit  the  Optionee  or  the  Optionee's   counsel  or  other  authorized
representatives to inspect and copy such corporate  documents and records as may
be reasonably requested by the Optionee;

(vi)  Furnish  the  Optionee  with  a  copy  of  all  documents  filed  and  all
correspondence  to or from the Securities and Exchange  Commission in connection
with the offering.

(e) In connection with the registration of the Option Shares, the Optionee shall
furnish the Company  with  appropriate  information  as may be  necessary  to be
included in the registration statement covering the Option Shares.

(f) The Company  shall  indemnify  the  Optionee  against  all  losses,  claims,
damages, liabilities,  expenses or actions in respect thereof (whether under the
Act, common law or otherwise)  caused by any untrue  statement or alleged untrue
statement  of  a  material  fact  relating  to  the  Company  contained  in  any
registration  statement  under which the Option Shares are registered  under the
Act, any preliminary or final prospectus


                                     - 10 -
<PAGE>

contained  therein,  or any  amendment or supplement  thereto,  or caused by any
omission or alleged omission  required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements  therein not misleading;  and will reimburse the Optionee for any
legal  or  out-  of-pocket  expenses  reasonably  incurred  by the  Optionee  in
connection with the investigation or defense against such loss,  claim,  damage,
liability or action;  provided,  however, that if such losses, claims,  damages,
liabilities or expenses are caused by any untrue statement or omission contained
in information furnished in writing to the Company by the Optionee expressly for
use therein, the indemnification provided above shall be afforded to the Company
by the  Optionee.  The Company  further  agrees  that,  in  connection  with any
underwritten  public  offering,  it will also enter into customary  contribution
arrangement  with the  Optionee,  and,  if, and to the extent  requested  by any
underwriters or broker-dealers through whom the Option Shares may be sold, then,
with such underwriters or broker-dealers.

11. Withholding Taxes. Optionee hereby agrees that the Company may withhold from
Optionee's  compensation  the  appropriate  amount of  federal,  state and local
withholding  taxes  attributable to Optionee's  exercise of this Option.  At the
Company's


                                     - 11 -
<PAGE>

discretion,  the amount  required  to be  withheld  may be withheld in cash from
wages,  fees or other  amounts  due from the  Company to the  Optionee  or (with
respect to compensation  income  attributable to the exercise of this Option) in
kind from the Shares  otherwise  deliverable  to  Optionee  on  exercise of this
Option.

12. Governing Law. The  interpretation  and construction of this Agreement,  and
all  matters  relating  hereto,  shall be  governed  by the laws of the State of
California  applicable to agreements  executed and to be performed solely within
the state.

13.  Notices.  Any notice to be given to the Company  shall be  addressed to the
Secretary or Treasurer of the Company at its principal executive office, and any
notice to be given to the  Optionee  shall be  addressed  to the Optionee at the
address then appearing on the corporate records of the Company, or at such other
address as either party  hereafter  may  designate in writing to the other.  Any
such notice shall be deemed to have been duly given when deposited in the United
States Mail,  addressed as  aforesaid,  registered or certified  mail,  and with
proper postage and registration or certification fees prepaid.


                                     - 12 -

<PAGE>

14. Miscellaneous.  In no event shall this Option be deemed to be an "incentive"
option as such term is defined under Section 422A of the Code.

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the Company  has  granted  this option on the day and year
first above written.


 ADVANCED PHOTONIX, INC.


By:  /s/ James W. Ward
     -----------------
     James W. Ward, President


ACCEPTANCE BY:



By:  /s/ Bernhardt Denmark
    ----------------------
     Bernhardt Denmark



                                     - 13 -





                                                                  Exhibit 23.1

                         [LETTERHEAD OF ARTHUR ANDERSEN)

                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

         As   independent   public   accountants,   we  hereby  consent  to  the
incorporation  by reference in this  Registration  Statement of our report dated
May 5, 1999  included  in  Advanced  Photonix,  Inc.'s Form 10-K for each of the
three years in the period ended March 28, 1999 and to all references to our Firm
included in this Registration Statement.

                                                      /s/ Arthur Andersen LLP
                                                          Arthur Andersen LLP



© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission