LAYNE CHRISTENSEN CO
S-8 POS, 1999-06-15
CONSTRUCTION - SPECIAL TRADE CONTRACTORS
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      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
                          June 14, 1999
                             Registration Statement No. 333-53485

==========================================================================

               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                     Washington, D.C.  20549

               ----------------------------------

                POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1
                               TO
                            FORM S-8
                     REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                              UNDER
                   THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

               ----------------------------------

                    LAYNE CHRISTENSEN COMPANY
     (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

            DELAWARE                             48-0920712
(State or other jurisdiction of                (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                Identification No.)

        1900 SHAWNEE MISSION PARKWAY, MISSION WOODS, KANSAS  66205
           (Address of Principal Executive Offices)     (Zip Code)

                    LAYNE CHRISTENSEN COMPANY
                 1996 DISTRICT STOCK OPTION PLAN
                    (Full title of the plan)

            KENT B. MAGILL, LAYNE CHRISTENSEN COMPANY
                  1900 SHAWNEE MISSION PARKWAY
                  MISSION WOODS, KANSAS  66205
             (Name and address of agent for service)

                         (913) 362-0510
  (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)


          Please send copies of all correspondence to:

                    LAYNE CHRISTENSEN COMPANY
    1900 SHAWNEE MISSION PARKWAY MISSION WOODS, KANSAS 66205
    ATTN: KENT B. MAGILL, VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL
                         (913) 362-0510

          Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8, the
          contents of Registration Statement No. 33-20801 are
          incorporated herein by reference.

<PAGE>

                              NOTE

The Layne Christensen Company 1996 District Stock Option Plan
recently was amended to permit officers of the Registrant to be
eligible to receive grants of stock options thereunder. This Post-
Effective Amendment is being filed by the Registrant to present
the Layne Christensen Company 1996 District Stock Option Plan, as
amended to date.


                             PART II

          INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

     ITEM 3.   INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

     The following documents have been previously filed by Layne
Christensen Company (the "Company") with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") and are incorporated by
reference into this Registration Statement:  (i) the Annual
Report on Form 10-K filed for the fiscal year ended January 31,
1999; (ii) the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended April 30, 1999; and (iii) the description of the Common
Stock contained in the Company's Registration Statement on
Form 8-A (File No. 0-20578), including any amendments or
reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

     Additionally, all documents filed by the Company with the
Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")
after the date hereof and prior to the termination of the Layne
Christensen Company 1996 District Stock Option Plan or the filing
of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities
offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then
remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference
in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the
date of filing of such documents, except that in no event shall
any information included in any such document in response to Item
402(i), (k) or (l) of Regulation S-K be deemed to constitute a
part of this Registration Statement. Any statements 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.

<PAGE>

     ITEM 5.   INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

     The validity of the shares of the Registrant's common stock
registered pursuant to this Registration Statement and certain
other matters has been passed upon by Kent B. Magill, Vice
President and General Counsel of the Registrant.  As of June 14,
1999, Mr. Magill owned 17,361 shares of the Registrant's common
stock and has been granted options exercisable with respect to an
additional 129,367 shares of Registrant's common stock.

     ITEM 6.   INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

     (a)  Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware
(the "DGCL") gives Delaware corporations broad powers to
indemnify their present and former directors and officers and
those of affiliated corporations against expenses incurred in the
defense of any lawsuit to which they are made parties by reason
of being or having been such directors or officers, including
expenses relating to liabilities under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), subject to specified
conditions and exclusions, and gives a director or officer who
successfully defends an action the right to be so indemnified,
and authorizes the Company to buy directors' and officers'
liability insurance. Such indemnification is not exclusive of any
other rights to which those indemnified may be entitled under any
by-laws, agreement, vote of the stockholders or otherwise.

     (b)  The Company's Bylaws provide that the Company shall
indemnify officers and directors of the Company to the fullest
extent permitted by and in the manner permissible under the DGCL.

     (c)  In accordance with Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, the
Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that
directors shall not be personally liable for monetary damages for
breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors except for (1)
breaches of their duty of loyalty to the Company or its
stockholders, (2) acts or omissions not in good faith or which
involve intentional misconduct or knowing violations of law, (3)
under Section 174 of the DGCL (unlawful payment of dividends) or
(4) transactions from which a director derives an improper
personal benefit.

     (d)        The Company has obtained directors and officers
liability insurance for each of its directors and executive
officers which (subject to certain limits and deductibles) (i)
insures such persons against loss arising from certain claims
made against them by reason of such persons being a director or
officer, and (ii) insures the Company against loss which it may
be required or permitted to pay as indemnification due such
persons for certain claims. Such insurance may provide coverage
for certain matters as to which the Company may not be permitted
by law to provide indemnification.

     (e)  For information regarding the Company's undertaking to
submit to adjudication, the issue of indemnification for
violation of the securities laws, see "Undertakings," Item 9
hereof.

<PAGE>

     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 incorporated herein by reference.

     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 of 1933;

               (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or
                    events arising after the effective date of
                    the Registration Statement (or the most
                    recent post-effective amendment thereof)
                    which, individually or in the aggregate,
                    represent a fundamental change in the
                    information set forth in the Registration
                    Statement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,
                    any increase or decrease in volume  of
                    securities offered (if the total dollar value
                    of securities offered would not exceed that
                    which was registered) and any deviation from
                    the low or high end of the estimated maximum
                    offering range may be reflected in the form
                    of prospectus filed with the Commission
                    pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate,
                    the changes in volume and price represent no
                    more than a 20% change in the maximum
                    aggregate offering price set forth in the
                    "Calculation of Registration Fee" table
                    in the effective Registrant Statement;

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

               PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that paragraphs
               (1)(i) and (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 Section
               15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
               that are incorporated by reference in the
               Registration Statement.

<PAGE>

          (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability
               under the Securities Act of 1933, each 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 the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     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 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.

<PAGE>

                           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 Mission Woods, State of Kansas, on June 14, 1999.


                        LAYNE CHRISTENSEN COMPANY

                        By: /s/ A. B. Schmitt
                            -------------------------------------
                            Andrew B. Schmitt
                            President and Chief Executive Officer

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

         SIGNATURE AND TITLE                             DATE

/s/ A. B. Schmitt                                   June 14, 1999
- -----------------------------------------
Andrew B. Schmitt
President, Chief Executive Officer and
Director (Principal Executive Officer)


/s/ Jerry W. Fanska                                 June 14, 1999
- -----------------------------------------
Jerry W. Fanska
Vice President - Finance and Treasurer
(Principal Financial & Accounting Officer)


     *                                              June 14, 1999
- -----------------------------------------
Robert J. Dineen
Director


     *                                              June 14, 1999
- -----------------------------------------
Todd A. Fisher
Director


     *                                              June 14, 1999
- -----------------------------------------
Edward A. Gilhuly
Director

<PAGE>

          *                                         June 14, 1999
- -----------------------------------------
Donald K. Miller
Director

          *                                         June 14, 1999
- -----------------------------------------
Sheldon R. Erikson
Director


*     By /s/ A. B. Schmitt
         --------------------------------
               Andrew B. Schmitt
               Attorney-in-fact

<PAGE>

                        INDEX TO EXHIBITS
                                                     SEQUENTIALLY
                                                        NUMBERED
EXHIBIT NO.    DESCRIPTION                                 PAGE

     4.1       Specimen common stock certificate (filed         *
               as Exhibit 4(1) to the Registrant's
               Registration Statement on Form S-1,
               SEC File No. 33-48432, and incorporated
               herein by reference).

     4.2       Restated Certificate of Incorporation            *
               of the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 3(1)
               to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form
               10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31,
               1996, and incorporated herein by reference).

     4.3       Bylaws of the Registrant (filed as               *
               Exhibit 3(2) to the Registrant's
               Registration Statement on Form S-1, SEC
               File No. 33-48432, and incorporated herein
               by reference).

     4.4       Layne Christensen Company 1996 District         10
               Stock Option Plan (as amended to date).

     4.5       Layne Christensen Company 1996 District          *
               Stock Option Agreement (filed as
               Exhibit 4.5 to the Registrant's
               Registration Statement on Form S-8,
               SEC File No. 333-53485, and
               incorporated herein by reference.)

     5         Opinion of Kent B. Magill, Vice                  *
               President and General Counsel, for the
               Registrant, with respect to the legality
               of Registrant's common stock registered
               hereby (filed as Exhibit 5 to the
               Registrant's Registration Statement on
               Form S-8, SEC File No. 333-53485, and
               incorporated herein by reference).

     23.1      Consent of the Registrant's Independent         20
               Accountants.

<PAGE>

     23.2      Consent of Kent B. Magill, the                  *
               Registrant's Counsel (contained in
               the Opinion of Counsel filed as Exhibit 5).

     25        Power of Attorney (included on Signature
*              page to original filing of this
               Registration Statement)

*    Incorporated herein by reference.


                                                      EXHIBIT 4.4
                    LAYNE CHRISTENSEN COMPANY
                 1996 DISTRICT STOCK OPTION PLAN

          Layne Christensen Company, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), desires to provide additional incentive for key
employees to promote the success of the Company and its
subsidiaries by allowing such employees to share in the future
growth of the business and to participate in the ownership of the
Company.  Accordingly, the Company hereby establishes the 1996
District Stock Option Plan of Layne Christensen Company (the
"Plan") to offer eligible employees the opportunity to become
owners of capital stock of the Company under stock options which
are intended to be Nonqualified Stock Options.  The Plan is
adopted, as follows, effective July 16, 1996, as amended
effective April 20, 1999.

                           ARTICLE  I

                           DEFINITIONS

          Whenever the following terms are used in this Plan,
they shall have the meaning specified below unless the context
clearly indicates to the contrary.  The masculine pronoun shall
include the feminine and neuter, and the singular the plural,
where the context so indicates.

          1.1  BOARD--"Board" shall mean the Board of Directors
of the Company.  Members of the Board shall be referred to as
"Directors."

          1.2  CODE--"Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended.

          1.3  COMMITTEE--The "Committee" shall mean the
administrative committee of the Plan selected by the Board.

          1.4  COMPANY--"Company" shall mean Layne Christensen
Company, a Delaware corporation.

          1.5  EMPLOYEE--An individual employed by the Company or
a Subsidiary.

          1.6  KEY EMPLOYEE--"Key Employee" shall mean any
Employee of the Company who, in the sole discretion of the
Committee, has made or is expected to make, a significant
contribution to the Company; provided, however, that Directors
who are not also Employees of the Company shall not be eligible
to participate in this Plan.

          1.7  NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION--"Nonqualified Stock
Option" shall mean an option granted hereunder which is not
qualified under Section 422 of the Code as an incentive stock
option.

          1.8  OFFICER--"Officer" shall mean an officer of the
Company or any Subsidiary as defined in the Securities and
Exchange Commission Rule 16a - 1(f), as amended.

<PAGE>

          1.9  OPTION--"Option" shall mean an option to purchase
common stock of the Company granted under the Plan.

          1.10 OPTIONEE--"Optionee" shall mean an Employee to
whom an Option has been granted under the Plan.

          1.11 OPTION PERIOD--"Option Period" shall mean the
period during which an Option may be exercised as determined by
the Committee under the terms of Section 4.3(a) hereof.

          1.12 PERMANENT DISABILITY--"Permanent Disability" shall
mean a condition of permanent disability as determined in good
faith by a majority of the Committee.

          1.13 PLAN--"Plan" shall mean the 1996 District Stock
Option Plan of the Company.

          1.14 RETIREMENT--"Retirement" shall mean retirement
from the Company at age 62 or older (or such earlier age as may
be approved by the Board).

          1.15 SECURITIES ACT--"Securities Act" shall mean the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

          1.16 STOCK--"Stock" or "shares" shall mean shares of
the common stock of the Company.

          1.17 SUBSIDIARY--"Subsidiary" or "Subsidiaries" shall
mean subsidiary corporations or a subsidiary corporation of the
Company within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code.

          1.18 TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT--"Termination of
Employment" shall mean the time when the employer-employee
relationship between the Company or a Subsidiary and the Optionee
ceases for any reason.  The Committee, in its absolute
discretion, shall determine the effect of all matters and
questions relating to Termination of Employment including, but
not limited to, whether a particular leave of absence constitutes
a Termination of Employment.

                          ARTICLE  II

                      STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN

          2.1  STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN--Options granted under this
Plan shall be granted solely with respect to shares of Stock.
Subject to any adjustments made pursuant to the provisions of
Section 2.3 hereof, the aggregate number of shares of stock which
may be issued under this Plan shall not exceed 650,000.  The
shares of Stock issuable and deliverable upon the exercise of an
Option, or any portion thereof, may be either previously
authorized but unissued shares or issued shares which have been
reacquired by the Company.

<PAGE>

          2.2  UNEXERCISED OPTIONS--If any Option expires or is
canceled without having been fully exercised, the number of
shares subject to such Option but as to which such Option was not
exercised prior to its expiration or cancellation may again be
made available for grant hereunder, subject to the limitations of
Section 2.1.

          2.3  ADJUSTMENTS IN COMPANY'S SHARES--In the event the
Stock is changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind
of securities of the Company by reason of merger, consolidation,
recapitalization, reclassification, stock split, stock dividend
or combination of shares, the Committee shall make an appropriate
and equitable adjustment in the number and kind of shares (a) as
to which Options may be granted, including adjustments of the
limitation in Section 2.1; and (b) as to which Options, or
portions thereof unexercised, shall be exercisable, to the end
that after such event each Optionee's proportionate interest
shall be maintained as before the occurrence of such event.  Such
adjustment in an outstanding Option shall be made with any
necessary corresponding adjustment in the Option exercise price
per share and without change in the total price applicable to the
Options or the unexercised portion of the Options (except for any
change in the aggregate price resulting from rounding-off of
share quantities or prices).  Any such adjustment made by the
Committee shall be final and binding upon all Optionees, the
Company and all other interested persons.

                          ARTICLE  III

               ELIGIBILITY AND GRANTING OF OPTIONS

          3.1  ELIGIBILITY--Options to purchase shares of Stock
shall be granted under this Plan only to Key Employees of the
Company and its Subsidiaries.

          3.2  GRANTING OF OPTIONS--

               (a)  The Committee shall from time to time and in
     its absolute discretion:

                         (i)  Determine which Key Employees
          (including those to whom Options have been previously
          granted under the Plan) should be granted Options;

                         (ii) Determine the number of shares to
          be subject to such Options granted to such selected Key
          Employees;

                         (iii)     Determine the terms and
          conditions of such Options, consistent with the Plan.

               (b)  Upon the selection of a Key Employee to be
     granted an Option, the Committee shall grant such Option and
     may impose such conditions on the grant of such Option as it
     deems appropriate.  Without limiting the generality of the
     preceding sentence, the Committee may, in its discretion and
     on such terms as it deems appropriate, require as a
     condition on the grant of an Option to an Optionee that the
     Optionee deliver to the

<PAGE>

     Company cash consideration for such option and/or surrender
     for cancellation some or all of the unexercised Options
     which have been previously granted to him.  An Option, the
     grant of which is conditioned upon such surrender, may have
     an option exercise price lower (or higher) than the option
     exercise price of the surrendered Option, may cover the same
     (or a lesser or greater) number of shares as the surrendered
     Option, may contain such other terms as the Committee deems
     appropriate and shall be exercisable in accordance with its
     terms, without regard to the number of shares, exercise
     price, option period or any other term or condition of the
     surrendered Option.

               (c)  No Option may be granted hereunder after ten
     (10) years from the date the Plan is adopted by the Board.

               (d)  An Option shall be deemed granted on the date
     the Committee approves the granting of such Option;
     provided, however, that any Option shall terminate thirty
     (30) days after the date upon which it shall have been
     granted unless a Stock Option Agreement duly executed by the
     Optionee shall have been redelivered to the Company within
     such thirty (30) day period.

                           ARTICLE IV

                        TERMS OF OPTION

          4.1  OPTION AGREEMENT--Each Option shall be evidenced
by a written Stock Option Agreement, which shall be executed by
the Optionee and an authorized officer of the Company.  The terms
and conditions of a Stock Option Agreement shall be consistent
with the Plan, but the Committee shall have the power and
authority to include such other terms and conditions which are
not inconsistent with the Plan.  The Committee may, in its
discretion, incorporate different terms and conditions in the
Stock Option Agreement offered to each Optionee consistent with
this Section 4.1.

          4.2  OPTION EXERCISE PRICE--The exercise price of the
shares subject to each Option shall be determined by the
Committee and set forth in the respective Stock Option Agreement.

          4.3  PERIOD AND EXERCISE OF OPTION--

               (a)  PERIOD--Subject to the provisions of the
     Stock Option Agreement and the other restrictions contained
     in the Plan, an Option shall become exercisable at such
     times and in such installments (which may be cumulative) as
     the Committee shall provide in the terms of each individual
     Option, and the period during which such Option (or
     installment) may be exercised shall terminate at such times
     as the Committee shall provide in the terms of each
     individual Option. The Committee may adopt a resolution
     after an Option is granted and on such terms and conditions
     as it deems appropriate whereby the time during which such
     Option or any portion thereof may be exercised is
     accelerated.  No

<PAGE>

     Option may be exercised to any extent by anyone after the
     first to occur of the following events:

                          (i)  the expiration of ten (10) years
          from the date the Option is granted;

                         (ii)  the time of the Optionee's
          Termination of Employment unless such Termination of
          Employment results from his death, Permanent Disability
          or Retirement;

                        (iii)  the expiration of thirty (30) days
          from the time of the Optionee's Termination of
          Employment by reason of his Permanent Disability or
          Retirement;

                         (iv)  the expiration of ninety (90) days
          from the time of the Optionee's Termination of
          Employment by reason of his death; or

                         (v)  the Optionee shall engage in
          willful misconduct which injures the Company or any of
          its Subsidiaries as determined by the Committee.

               Except as set forth in subsections (ii), (iii) and
     (iv) above, an Option shall not be exercisable during the
     Option Period unless the Optionee shall have been
     continuously employed by the Company or a Subsidiary from
     the date the Option was granted until its date of exercise.

               Upon expiration of the Option Period, as
     accelerated if applicable, the Option shall terminate with
     respect to all shares of Stock not already actually
     purchased and paid for in full by the Optionee.

               (b)  PERSONS ELIGIBLE TO EXERCISE--An Option
     granted hereunder (or portion thereof) shall be exercisable
     only by the Optionee; provided, however, that in the event
     of an Optionee's death, the heirs, executors or personal
     representatives of such Optionee may exercise the Option.

               (c)  PARTIAL EXERCISE--Any exercisable portion of
     the Option or the entire Option, if then wholly exercisable,
     may be exercised in whole or in part during the applicable
     Option Period; provided, however, that the Company shall not
     be required to issue fractional shares and the Committee
     may, by the terms of the Option, require any partial
     exercise to be with respect to a specified minimum number of
     shares.

               (d)  MANNER OF EXERCISE--An exercisable Option, or
     any exercisable portion thereof, may be exercised solely by
     delivery to the Secretary of the Company or his office of
     all of the following prior to the time when such Option or
     portion thereof becomes unexercisable under the terms of
     this Plan or the applicable Stock Option Agreement:

<PAGE>

                        (i)  Notice in writing signed by the
          Optionee or other person then entitled to exercise such
          Option or portion thereof, stating that such Option or
          portion thereof is exercised, such notice complying
          with all applicable rules established by the Committee;

                        (ii)  Full payment (in cash or by check)
          of the exercise price for the shares with respect to
          which such Option or portion thereof is exercised;

                       (iii)  Such representations and documents as
          the Committee, in its absolute discretion, deems
          necessary or advisable to effect compliance with all
          applicable provisions of the Securities Act and any
          other federal or state securities laws or regulations.
          The Committee may, in its absolute discretion, also
          take whatever additional actions it deems appropriate
          to effect such compliance including, without
          limitation, placing legends on share certificates and
          issuing stop-transfer orders to transfer agents and
          registrars;

                        (iv)  Full payment (in cash or by check) to
          the Company of all amounts which, under federal, state
          or local law, it is required to withhold in connection
          with the exercise of the Option; and

                         (v)  In the event the Option or portion
          thereof shall be exercised by any person or persons
          other than the Optionee, appropriate proof of the right
          of such person or persons to exercise the Option.

          4.4  CONDITIONS TO ISSUANCE OF STOCK CERTIFICATES--The
Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificate
or certificates for shares of Stock purchased upon the exercise
of any Option or portion thereof prior to fulfillment of all of
the following conditions:

               (a)  The completion of any registration or other
     qualification of or notice regarding such shares under any
     state or federal law or under the rules or regulations of
     the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other
     governmental regulatory body, which the Committee shall, in
     its absolute discretion, deem necessary or advisable;

               (b)  The obtaining of any approval or other
     clearance from any state or federal governmental agency
     which the Committee shall, in its absolute discretion,
     determine to be necessary or advisable; and

               (c)  The lapse of such reasonable period of time
     following the exercise of the Option as the Committee may
     establish from time to time for reasons of administrative
     convenience, provided that, upon issuance, the shares shall
     be considered issued and outstanding as of the date such
     Option was exercised.

          4.5  RIGHTS AS STOCKHOLDERS--The holders of Options
shall not be, nor have any of the rights or privileges of,
stockholders of the Company in respect of any shares purchasable

<PAGE>

upon the exercise of any part of an Option unless and until
certificates representing such shares have been issued by the
Company to such holders.

          4.6  MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, ACQUISITION, LIQUIDATION OR
DISSOLUTION--In the event the Company shall not be the surviving
corporation in any merger, consolidation, or reorganization, or
in the event of acquisition by another corporation of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company, every Option
outstanding hereunder may be assumed (with appropriate changes)
by the surviving, continuing, successor or purchasing
corporation, as the case may be, subject to any applicable
provisions of the Code or replaced with new Options of comparable
value (in accordance with Section 424(a) of the Code).  In the
event (i) that such surviving, continuing, successor or
purchasing corporation, as the case may be, does not assume or
replace the outstanding Options hereunder, or (ii) of liquidation
or dissolution of the Company, the Committee may provide that
each Optionee shall have the right, within a period commencing
not more than thirty (30) days immediately prior to and ending on
the day immediately prior to such merger, consolidation,
reorganization or acquisition by another corporation of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company or the liquidation
or dissolution of the Company, to exercise the Optionee's
outstanding Options to the extent of all or any part of the
aggregate number of shares subject to such Option(s).  In the
event of a "Change of Control" (as defined below), the Committee
may accelerate the time at which Options granted under this Plan
may be exercised by the Optionee.  For purposes of this Section
4.6, "Change of Control" shall mean a change in control of a
nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item
6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (in effect on the date
hereof) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
in effect on the date hereof; provided, however, that, without
limitation, such a Change of Control shall be deemed to occur
when either (i) a person (other than KKR Associates, L.P. and/or
any of its affiliates, or a Director nominated or selected by the
Board or an Officer elected by the Board) acquires beneficial
ownership (as defined by Securities and Exchange Commission Rule
13d-3) of 25% or more of the combined voting power of the
Company's voting securities, or (ii) less than a majority of the
Directors are persons who were either nominated or selected by
the Board.

          4.7  TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS--The Committee, in its
absolute discretion, may impose such restrictions on the
transferability of the shares purchasable upon the exercise of an
Option as it deems appropriate.  Any such restriction shall be
set forth in the respective Stock Option Agreement and may be
referred to on the certificates evidencing such shares.

                            ARTICLE V

                         ADMINISTRATION

          5.1  DUTIES AND POWERS OF COMMITTEE--The Committee
shall have the power to interpret this Plan and any Stock Option
Agreement and to adopt such rules for the administration,
interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent
herewith and to interpret, amend, or revoke any such rules.  No
member of the Committee shall be personally liable for any
action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with
respect to this Plan or an Option.

<PAGE>

          5.2  MAJORITY RULE--The Committee shall act by a
majority of its members in office.  The Committee may act either
by a vote at a meeting or by a memorandum or other
written instrument signed by a majority of the Committee.

          5.3  EXPENSES:  INDEMNIFICATION--All reasonable
expenses and liabilities actually incurred in connection with the
administration of the Plan shall be borne by the Company.  The
Committee may employ attorneys, consultants, accountants,
appraisers, brokers or other persons.  The Committee, the Company
and its Officers and Directors shall be fully justified in
relying, or acting in good faith upon the advice, opinion,
valuations or information furnished by such persons.  All actions
taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the
Committee in good faith shall be final and binding upon all
Optionees, the Company and all other interested persons.  Each
person who is or shall have been a member of the Committee shall
be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from
any and all loss, cost, liability or expense that may be imposed
upon or reasonably incurred by such person in connection with or
resulting from any claim, action, suit or proceeding to which
such person may be or becomes a party or in which such person may
be or becomes involved by reason of any action taken or failure
to act under the Plan and against and from any and all amounts
paid by such person in settlement thereof (with the Company's
written approval) or paid by such person in satisfaction of a
judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding, except a
judgment in favor of the Company based upon a finding of such
person's lack of good faith; subject, however, to the condition
that upon the institution of any claim, action, suit or
proceeding against such person, such person shall, in writing,
give the Company notice and an opportunity, at its own expense,
to handle his own defense.  The foregoing right of
indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other right to
which such person may be entitled as a matter of law or otherwise
or any other right or power that the Company may have to
indemnify or hold such person harmless.

                           ARTICLE VI

                          MISCELLANEOUS

          6.1  OPTIONS NOT TRANSFERABLE--Neither an Option nor
any interest or right therein or part thereof shall be liable for
the debts, contracts or engagements of the Optionee or his
successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by
transfer, alienation, anticipation, pledge, encumbrance,
assignment or any other means whether such disposition is
voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law by judgment,
levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable
proceedings (including bankruptcy), and any attempted disposition
thereof shall be null and void and of no effect; provided,
however, that this Section 6.1 shall not prevent transfers by
will or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution.

          6.2  AMENDMENT, SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION OF THE PLAN--
No Option shall be granted pursuant to this Plan after July 16,
2006, on which date this Plan will terminate except as to Options
then outstanding under the Plan.  Options outstanding as of July
16, 2006, shall remain in effect until they are exercised or they
expire.  The Committee may at any time before such date amend,
modify or terminate the Plan.

<PAGE>

     No amendment, modification or termination of this Plan may
adversely affect the rights of any Optionee under any then
outstanding Option granted hereunder without the consent of such
Optionee.

          6.3  EFFECT OF PLAN UPON OTHER COMPENSATION PLANS--
Nothing in this Plan shall be construed to limit the right of the
Company (a) to establish any other forms of incentive or other
compensation for Employees, or (b) to grant or assume options
otherwise than under this Plan in connection with any proper
corporate purpose including, without limitation, the grant or
assumption of options in connection with the acquisition by
purchase, lease, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of the
business, stock or assets of any corporation, firm or
association.

          6.4  EFFECT OF PLAN UPON EMPLOYMENT--Nothing in this
Plan shall be construed as an obligation of the Company or its
Subsidiaries to continue the employment of any Employee.

          6.5  TITLES--Titles are provided herein for convenience
only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or
construction of this Plan.

          6.6  GOVERNING LAW--The laws of the State of Kansas
shall govern the interpretation, validity and performance of the
terms of this Plan regardless of the law that might be applied
under principles of conflicts of laws.

          6.7  CONFORMITY TO SECURITIES LAWS--The Plan is
intended to conform to the extent necessary with all provisions
of the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and any and all regulations and rules promulgated by the
Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.  Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, the Plan shall be administered,
and Options shall be granted and may be exercised, only in such
manner as to conform to such laws, rules and regulations.  To the
extent permitted by applicable law, the Plan and Options granted
hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to
conform to such laws, rules and regulations.






                                                     EXHIBIT 23.1



INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT




We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement of Layne Christensen Company on Form S-8 of our reports
dated March 19, 1999, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K
of Layne Christensen Company for the year ended January 31, 1999.




/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Kansas City, Missouri
June 14, 1999





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