GENERAL SURGICAL INNOVATIONS INC
S-8, 1999-02-04
SURGICAL & MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS & APPARATUS
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<PAGE>

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 4, 1999
                                           Registration No. 333-_____
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------


                  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                        WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                            ________________

                               FORM S-8

                        REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                 UNDER
                      THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                           ________________

                   GENERAL SURGICAL INNOVATIONS, INC.
        (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

           CALIFORNIA                     94-3160456
   (State of incorporation)     (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)


                             10460 BUBB ROAD
                       CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA 95014
                (Address of principal executive offices)
                        _______________________

                        1992 STOCK OPTION PLAN
           WRITTEN COMPENSATION AGREEMENT DATED APRIL 6, 1998
                       (Full title of the Plan)
                        _______________________

                         GREGORY D. CASCIARO
                       CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                  GENERAL SURGICAL INNOVATIONS, INC.
                             10460 BUBB ROAD
                       CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA 95014
                            (408) 863-2500
(Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
                        _______________________
                              Copy to:

                          Maribeth Younger
                         Venture Law Group
                        2800 Sand Hill Road
                    Menlo Park, California 94025
                           (650) 854-4488


<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                            Proposed          Proposed             Amount    
                                           Maximum           Maximum           Maximum               of       
                                         Amount to be     Offering Price      Aggregate         Registration 
Title of Securities to be Registered     Registered(1)      Per Share       Offering Price           Fee      
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                    <C>                  <C>               <C>                 <C>       
1992 STOCK OPTION PLAN
    Common Stock,
    $0.001 par value. . . .            537,678 Shares       $3.25(3)         $1,747,454
                                       (unissued)

WRITTEN COMPENSATION AGREEMENT
DATED APRIL 6, 1998
    Common Stock,
    $0.001 par value. . . .             25,000              $4.00(2)         $  100,000

                    TOTAL              562,678 Shares(4)                     $1,847,454           $ 514

</TABLE>
_______________________
(1)  This Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of
     Common Stock which become issuable under the plan being registered
     pursuant to this Registration Statement by reason of any stock dividend,
     stock split, recapitalization or any other similar transaction effected
     without the receipt of consideration which results in an increase in the
     number of the Registrant's outstanding shares of Common Stock.

(2)  Computed in accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933 
     (the "Securities Act") solely for the purpose of calculating the 
     registration fee.  Computation based on the weighted average per share 
     exercise price (rounded to nearest cent) of outstanding options under 
     the referenced plan, the shares issuable under which are registered 
     hereby.

(3)  Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(h) and 457(c) under the Securities 
     Act solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.  The 
     computation with respect to unissued options is based upon the average 
     of the high and low sale prices of the Common Stock as reported on the 
     Nasdaq National Market on January 29, 1999.

(4) This total represents (A) a 537,678 share increase in the shares reserved 
    for issuance under the 1992 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"), which 
    increase was approved by the Registrant's Board of Directors at a meeting 
    on September 29, 1998 and by the Registrant's shareholders at a meeting 
    on November 19, 1998 (of the 537,678 shares being registered hereunder, 
    no shares are subject to outstanding options and 537,678 are available 
    for issuance) and (B) a 25,000 option grant for the purchase of shares of 
    Common Stock outside of the Plan, which grant was approved by the 
    Registrant's Board of Directors on April 6, 1998.

    An additional 1,616,990 shares were registered for issuance under the Plan
    pursuant to a previous registration statement on Form S-8 filed by the 
    Registrant with the Commission on August 16, 1996, and an additional 
    900,000 shares were registered for issuance under the Plan pursuant to a 
    previous registration statement on Form S-8 filed by the Registrant with 
    the Commission on January 26, 1998, as amended June 30, 1998.

                                     -2-

<PAGE>


                                    PART II
                INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.   INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

     The following documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "COMMISSION") are hereby incorporated by reference:

     (a)  The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year 
ended June 30, 1998, filed on September 28, 1998, pursuant to Section 13 
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), 
which contains audited financial statements for the Registrant's latest 
fiscal year for which such statements have been filed.

     (b)  The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter 
ended September 30, 1998, filed on November 16, 1998 pursuant to Section 13 
of the Exchange Act.

     (c)  The description of the Registrant's Common Stock contained in the 
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission 
under Section 12 of the Exchange Act on May 3, 1996, including any amendment 
or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

     All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-
effective amendment 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 part
hereof from the date of filing such documents.

Item 4.   DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.  Not applicable.

Item 5.   INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.  

     Certain legal matters with respect to the shares will be passed upon by 
Venture Law Group, a Professional Corporation, Menlo Park, California.  Mark 
B. Weeks, a director of Venture Law Group, is the Secretary of the Registrant.

Item 6.   INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

     The Registrant's Articles of Incorporation eliminate the liability of a 
director for monetary damages to the fullest extent permissible under 
California law.  In addition, the Articles of Incorporation authorize the 
Registrant to indemnify agents in excess of the indemnification otherwise 
permitted by Section 317 of the California Corporations Code (the "Code"), 
subject only to the limits in Section 204 of the Code, with respect to 
actions for breach of duty to the Registrant and its shareholders.  The 
Bylaws of the Registrant provide that the Registrant shall to the maximum 
extent permitted by the Code indemnify directors and officers (and permits 


                                    -3-

<PAGE>

the Registrant to indemnify other employees and agents) against expenses, 
judgments and other amounts reasonably incurred in connection with a 
proceeding because such person was or is an agent of the Registrant.  The 
Bylaws also provide that the Registrant shall advance certain expenses in 
connection with indemnifying these persons, that the indemnification 
provision is not exclusive and that the Registrant may purchase directors and 
officers insurance.  In addition, the Registrant has entered into 
indemnification agreements with certain of its officers and directors.

Item 7.   EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.  Not applicable.

Item 8.   EXHIBITS.

Exhibit
Number
- --------

 4.2(1)              Shareholder Rights Plan.

 5.1                 Opinion of Venture Law Group, a Professional Corporation

23.1                 Consent of Venture Law Group, a Professional
                     Corporation (included in Exhibit 5.1).

23.2                 Consent of Independent Accountants.

24.1                 Powers of Attorney (see p. 7).

_______________
(1)  Incorporated by reference from exhibits filed in response to Item 2, 
     "Exhibits," of the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A 
     (Registration No. 000-28448), filed with the Commission on May 13, 1997.



                                     -4-

<PAGE>

Item 9.        UNDERTAKINGS.

     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, 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.

     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 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.

     Insofar as the indemnification for liabilities arising under the 
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling 
persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, 
the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such 
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act 
and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for 
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the 
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling 
person of the Registrant in a successful defense of any action, suit or 
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in 
connection with the securities being registered hereunder, 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.

                            [Signature Pages Follow]




                                     -5-
<PAGE>


                                  SIGNATURES


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the 
Registrant, GENERAL SURGICAL INNOVATIONS, INC., a corporation organized and 
existing under the laws of the State of California, 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 Cupertino, State of California, on this 29th day of January, 1999.


                               GENERAL SURGICAL INNOVATIONS, INC.



                               By:   /s/ Gregory D. Casciaro
                                   ----------------------------------
                                     Gregory D. Casciaro
                                     Chief Executive Officer



                                     -6-
<PAGE>



                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature 
appears below constitutes and appoints Gregory D. Casciaro and Stephen J. 
Bonelli, jointly and severally, his or her attorneys-in-fact and agents, each 
with the power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his 
or her name, place or stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any 
amendments to this Registration Statement on Form S-8, and to file such 
amendments, together with exhibits and other documents in connection 
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting to each 
attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each 
and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the 
premises, as fully as he or she might or could do in person, and ratifying 
and confirming all that the attorney-in-facts and agents, or his or her 
substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     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 dates indicated.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

          SIGNATURE                          TITLE                          DATE 


<S>                             <C>                                      <C>
/s/ Roderick A. Young
- -----------------------------   Chairman of the Board of Directors       January 29, 1999
Roderick A. Young


/s/ Gregory D. Casciaro         President, Chief Executive Officer
- -----------------------------   and Director (Principal Executive        January 29, 1999
Gregory D. Casciaro             Officer)


/s/ Stephen J. Bonelli          Vice President of Finance and 
- -----------------------------   Administration and Chief Financial       January 29, 1999
Stephen J. Bonelli              Officer (Principal Financial and 
                                Accounting Officer)


/s/ Thomas J. Fogarty, M.D.
- -----------------------------   Director                                 January 29, 1999
Thomas J. Fogarty, M.D.



- -----------------------------   Director                                 January 29, 1999
Dave Chonette


/s/ Paul Goeld
- -----------------------------   Director                                 January 29, 1999
Paul Goeld


/s/ James Sulat
- -----------------------------   Director                                 January 29, 1999
James Sulat



- -----------------------------   Director                                 January 29, 1999
Mark A. Wan

</TABLE>


                                      -7-
<PAGE>



                             INDEX TO EXHIBITS


EXHIBIT                                                  
NUMBER                                                   


   4.2(1)        Shareholder Rights Plan
   5.1           Opinion of Venture Law Group, a Professional Corporation
  23.1           Consent of Venture Law Group, a Professional Corporation
                 (included in Exhibit 5.1).
  23.2           Consent of Independent Accountants 
  24.1           Powers of Attorney (see p. 7).


_______________
(1) Incorporated by reference from exhibits filed in response to Item 2, 
    "Exhibits," of the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A 
    (Registration No. 000-28448), filed with the Commission on May 13, 1997.

                                      -8-

<PAGE>


                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

                                 [LETTERHEAD]


                               February 3, 1999


General Surgical Innovations, Inc.
10460 Bubb Road
Cupertino, California 95014

   REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8
   ----------------------------------

Ladies and Gentlemen:

   We have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "REGISTRATION 
STATEMENT") to be filed by you with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(the "COMMISSION") on or about February 3, 1999 in connection with the 
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of a total of 
537,678 shares of your Common Stock (the "SHARES") reserved for issuance 
under the General Surgical Innovations, Inc. 1992 Stock Option Plan (the 
"Plan") and 25,000 shares issuable pursuant to the Written Compensation 
Agreement dated as of April 6, 1998 between the Company and Gregory D. 
Casciaro, (the "Agreement"). As your legal counsel in connection with this 
transaction, we have examined the proceedings taken and are familiar with the 
proceedings proposed to be taken by you in connection with the sale and 
issuance of the Shares under the Plan and the Agreement.

   It is our opinion that, when issued and sold in the manner referred to in 
the Plan and pursuant to the respective agreement which accompanies each 
grant under the Plan, and within the Agreement, the Shares will be legally 
and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

   We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration 
Statement and further consent to the use of our name wherever appearing in 
the Registration Statement, including the prospectus constituting a part 
thereof, and in any amendment thereto.

                                       Very truly yours,

                                       VENTURE LAW GROUP
                                       A Professional Corporation


                                       /s/ Venture Law Group

<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 23.2


                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statement of 
General Surgical Innovations, Inc. on Form S-8 of our reports dated July 29, 
1998, on our audits of the financial statements and financial statement 
schedule of General Surgical Innovations, Inc. as of June 30, 1998 and 1997, 
and for each of the three years in the period ended June 30, 1998, which 
report is included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 
30, 1998.

                                           PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP


San Jose, California
January 28, 1999



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