UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13D
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(Amendment No. ___)
EcoScience Corporation
--------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
--------------------------------------------------------
(Title of Class of Securities)
279218200
--------------------------------------------------------
(CUSIP Number)
Michael A. DeGiglio, 10 Alvin Court,
East Brunswick, New Jersey 08816 (732) 432-8200
--------------------------------------------------------
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized
to Receive Notices and Communications)
September 30, 1998
-------------------------------------------------------
(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to
report the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is
filing this schedule because of Rule 13d-1(b)(3) or (4), check the following
box [ ].
NOTE: Six copies of this statement, including all exhibits, should be filed
with the Commission. See Rule 13d-1(a) for other parties to whom copies are
to be sent.
*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of
securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which
would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be
deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section
of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however,
see the Notes).
Page 1
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 13D
-------------------------------- ---------------------------
| CUSIP NO. 279218200 | | PAGE 2 OF 5 PAGES |
| --------- | | |
-------------------------------- ---------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 1 | NAME OF REPORTING PERSON |
| | S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON |
| | |
| | Carmelo (Thomas) Montanti |
| | |
| | |
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP |
| | __ |
| | (a) |__| |
| | Not Applicable (b) |__| |
| | |
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 3 | SEC USE ONLY |
| | |
| | |
| | |
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS |
| | |
| | OO |
| | |
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 5 | CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO |
| | ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) __ |
| | |__| |
| | |
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION |
| | |
| | U.S. |
| | |
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | 7 | SOLE VOTING POWER 2,533,093 |
| Number of |----------------------------------------------------
| Shares | 8 | SHARED VOTING POWER 4,231 |
| Beneficially |----------------------------------------------------
| Owned By | 9 | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 2,533,093 |
| Each Reporting |----------------------------------------------------
| Person With |10 | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 4,231 |
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|11 | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON |
| | |
| | 2,537,324 |
| | |
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|12 | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES |
| | ___ |
| | | x | |
| | --- |
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|13 | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) |
| | |
| | 21.8% |
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|14 | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON* |
| | |
| | IN |
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|CUSIP No. 279218200 13D Page 3 of 5 Pages|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Item 1. Security and Issuer.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of EcoScience Corporation
10 Alvin Court, East Brunswick, NJ 08816
Item 2. Identity and Background.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Carmelo (Thomas) Montanti
(b) c/o EcoScience Corporation
10 Alvin Court
East Brunswick, NJ 08816
(c) Director of EcoScience Corporation
Chairman of the Board and Director of Agro Power Development, Inc.
10 Alvin Court
East Brunswick, NJ 08816
(d) No criminal convictions in last five years
(e) Not enjoined with respect to securities laws in last five years
(f) United States
Item 3. Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pursuant to the merger of Agro Power Development, Inc. ("APD") with and
into Agro Acquisition Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of EcoScience,
effective September 30, 1998 (the "Merger"), Mr. Montanti exchanged
shares of the outstanding capital stock of APD for 2,533,093 shares of
the Common Stock of EcoScience.
Item 4. Purpose of Transaction.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2,533,093 shares of the Common Stock of EcoScience were issued to Mr.
Montanti pursuant to the Merger, as described in Item 3.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|CUSIP No. 279218200 13D Page 4 of 5 Pages|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Item 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Mr. Montanti may be deemed to beneficially own 2,537,324 shares of
the Common Stock of EcoScience, representing 21.8% of that class of
securities.
(b) Mr. Montanti has direct voting and dispositive power with respect
to 2,533,093 shares of EcoScience Common Stock. He may be deemed to
have indirect voting and dispositive power with respect to 4,231 shares
held by Mr. Montanti's wife (as to which shares Mr. Montanti disclaims
beneficial ownership). The address for Mrs. Montanti is 10 Alvin
Court, East Brunswick, NJ 08816. Mrs. Montanti has not been the
subject of a criminal conviction or an injunction for securities laws
violations over the past five years.
(c) 2,533,093 shares of the Common Stock of EcoScience were issued to
Mr. Montanti pursuant to the Merger effective September 30, 1998, as
described in Item 3.
(d) Mrs. Montanti has the right to receive dividends with respect to
the 4,231 shares held by her directly.
Item 6. Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships
with Respect to Securities of the Issuer.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2,533,093 shares issued pursuant to the Merger and beneficially owned
directly by Mr. Montanti are subject to a Lock-Up Agreement dated
September 30, 1998, which provides that such shares may not be sold,
transferred or otherwise disposed of: (i) in violation of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder or (ii) until EcoScience
has published financial statements covering at least 30 days of post-
Merger operations of EcoScience and APD.
In connection with the Merger, 33,000 shares of Common Stock of
EcoScience issued to Mr. Montanti are currently being held in escrow by
Warner & Stackpole LLP pursuant to an Escrow Agreement dated September
30, 1998. The Escrow Agreement provides for release of the shares to
Mr. Montanti upon successful completion of the sale of Mr. Montanti's
interest in Village Farms of Morocco, S.A., to Agro Acquisition Corp.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|CUSIP No. 279218200 13D Page 5 of 5 Pages|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Item 7. Material to Be Filed as Exhibits.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
None.
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete
and correct.
October 9, 1998
/s/ Carmelo (Thomas) Montanti
-----------------------------------
Carmelo (Thomas) Montanti
Director
