HYPERMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS INC
S-8, 1996-06-07
PERIODICALS: PUBLISHING OR PUBLISHING & PRINTING
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            AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JUNE 7, 1996
                                                  REGISTRATION NO. 333-
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                         HYPERMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
               (Exact name of issuer as specified in its charter)


      CALIFORNIA                                       94-3104247
(State of Incorporation)                 (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)


                     901 MARINER'S ISLAND BLVD., SUITE 365
                              SAN MATEO, CA 94404
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                                1991 STOCK PLAN
                           1993 DIRECTOR OPTION PLAN
                       1996 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)

                                   TODD HAGEN
                  VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
                          AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
                        HYPERMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                     901 MARINER'S ISLAND BLVD., SUITE 365
                               SAN MATEO, CA 94404
                                 (415) 573-5170
(Name, address,  including zip code and telephone number, including area code,
                              of agent for service)

                                    Copy to:
                            Donna M. Petkanics, Esq.
                           Christopher F. Boyd, Esq.
                     WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI, P.C.
                               650 Page Mill Road
                          Palo Alto, California 94306
                                 (415) 493-9300
<TABLE>

                                           CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
=============================================================================================================================
<CAPTION>
                                                                          Proposed             Proposed
                                                                           Maximum              Maximum            Amount of
                Title of Securities                Amount to be        Offering Price          Aggregate         Registration
                  to be Registered                  Registered            Per Share          Offering Price           Fee
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                               <C>                     <C>                <C>                    <C>     
Common Stock, no par value:
- -  1991 Stock Plan                                200,000 shares          $ 3.00 (1)          $ 600,000 (1)         $ 206.90
- -  1993 Director Option Plan                       50,000 shares          $ 3.00 (1)          $ 150,000 (1)         $  51.72
- -  1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan              150,000 shares          $ 2.55 (2)          $ 382,500 (2)         $ 131.90
         TOTAL                                    400,000 SHARES                             $1,132,500             $ 390.52
============================================================================================================================
<FN>
(1)      Estimated  pursuant to Rule 457 solely for purposes of calculating  the
         registration  fee on the  basis of  closing  price of $3.00  per  share
         reported on the Nasdaq  SmallCap  Market on May 31, 1996 (the  "Closing
         Price").
(2)      Estimated  pursuant to Rule 457 solely for purposes of calculating  the
         registration fee on the basis of 85% of the Closing Price.

</FN>
</TABLE>

                                     II - 1

<PAGE>



                       REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

                                     PART II

                 INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.           INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

                  The following documents and information  previously filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission by HyperMedia  Communications,  Inc. (the
"Company") are hereby incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

                  (1)      The  Company's  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K for the
                           fiscal year ended  December 31, 1995,  filed pursuant
                           to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
                           as amended (the "Exchange Act");

                  (2)      The Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the
                           fiscal  quarter ended March 31, 1996,  filed pursuant
                           to Section 13 of the Exchange Act; and

                  (3)      The   description  of  the  Company's   Common  Stock
                           contained in the Company's  Registration Statement on
                           Form 8-A filed with the  Commission  on December  10,
                           1992,  as amended,  pursuant to Section  12(g) of the
                           Exchange Act.

                  All documents  subsequently  filed by the Company  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 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.

          Not applicable.

ITEM 6.   INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

         The Company has adopted provisions in its Articles of Incorporation and
Bylaws that limit the liability of its directors. As permitted by the California
Corporations  Code,  directors  will not be liable to the Company  for  monetary
damages  arising from a breach of their  fiduciary duty as directors,  including
such conduct  during a merger or tender offer,  in certain  circumstances.  Such
limitation does not affect  liability for any breach of a director's duty to the
Company or its  shareholders (i) with respect to approval by the director of any
transaction  from which he  derives  an  improper  personal  benefit,  (ii) with
respect  to acts or  omissions  involving  an  absence  of good  faith,  that he
believes  to  be  contrary  to  the  best   interests  of  the  Company  or  its
shareholders,  that  involve  intentional  misconduct  or a knowing and culpable
violation of law,  that  constitute  an unexcused  pattern of  inattention  that
amounts  to an  abdication  of his duty to the  Company or its  shareholders  in
circumstances in which he was, or should have been


                                     II - 1

<PAGE>



aware,  in the ordinary  course of performing  his duties,  of a risk of serious
injury  to the  Company  or its  shareholders,  or (iii)  based on  transactions
between the Company and its directors or another  corporation with  interrelated
directors  or  based  on  improper  distributions,  loans  or  guarantees  under
applicable  sections of the California  Corporations  Code.  Such  limitation of
liability also does not affect the  availability  of equitable  remedies such as
injunctive relief or rescission.

         Section 317 of the California  Corporations  Code authorizes a court to
award, or a corporation's Board of Directors to grant, indemnity to officers and
directors  in terms  sufficiently  broad to permit  such  indemnification  under
certain  circumstances  for liabilities  (including  reimbursement  for expenses
incurred)  arising under the Securities  Act of 1933, as amended.  The Company's
Articles of  Incorporation  authorize  the Company to  indemnify  the  Company's
officers and  directors.  The  Company's  Bylaws  provide that the Company shall
indemnify  its  directors  and  officers  to the  fullest  extent  permitted  by
California law,  including  circumstances in which  indemnification is otherwise
discretionary under California law. The Company has entered into indemnification
agreements with its officers and directors  containing  provisions  which are in
some respects broader than the specific indemnification provisions con tained in
the California Corporations Code. The indemnification agreements may require the
Company,  among other things, to indemnify them against certain liabilities that
may arise by reason of their  status or service as  directors  or  officers,  to
advance their expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to
which  they  could  be  indemnified,  and to  obtain  directors'  and  officers'
insurance if available on reasonable terms.



ITEM 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

         Not applicable.

<TABLE>

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.

<CAPTION>
     EXHIBIT
     NUMBER                         DESCRIPTION
     ---------    --------------------------------------------------------------
<S>               <C>             
          4.1*    1991 Stock Plan.

          4.2*    1993 Director Option Plan.

          4.3     1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

          5.1     Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati as to legality of securities being registered.

         23.1     Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP (see page II-6).

         23.2     Consent of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati  (contained in Exhibit 5.1).

         24.1     Power of Attorney (see page II-4).
<FN>
- ----------------------------------
*    Incorporated   by  reference  to  the  exhibit  filed  with  the  Company's
     Registration Statement on Form S-8, as amended (Registration  Statement No.
     33-77454), declared effective on April 6, 1994.
</FN>
</TABLE>


                                     II - 2

<PAGE>



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,  as  amended  (the  "Securities  Act"),  each such
post-effective  amendment  shall be  deemed to be a new  Registration  Statement
relating to the securities offered therein,  and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

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

         (b) The undersigned  registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining  any  liability  under  the  Securities  Act,  each  filing  of  the
registrant's  annual  report  pursuant to Section  13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act 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 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.


                                     II - 3

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES



         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act, the  registrant
certifies  that it has  reasonable  grounds to believe  that it meets all of the
requirements  for  filing  on Form S-8 and has  duly  caused  this  registration
statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized,  in the City of San Mateo,  State of California,  on this 5th day of
June, 1996.


                            HYPERMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS, INC.



                            /s/ Todd Hagen
                            -------------------------------------
                            Todd Hagen
                            Vice President of Finance and Administration
                            and Chief Financial Officer



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE  PRESENTS,  that each person whose  signature
appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Richard Landry and Todd Hagen, and
each of them acting individ ually, as his attorney-in-fact, each with full power
of  substitution,  for  him in any  and  all  capacities,  to  sign  any and all
amendments  to this  Registration  Statement  on Form S-8, and to file the same,
with  exhibits  thereto and other  documents in connection  therewith,  with the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission,  hereby  ratifying and confirming all that
said attorney-in-fact,  or his substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.



                                      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                           Date
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  /s/ Richard Landry          President, Chief                     June 5, 1996
- -------------------------     Executive Officer, Publisher
Richard Landry                and Director                
                              (Principal Executive        
                              Officer)                    
                              


  /s/ Todd Hagen              Vice President, Finance              June 5, 1996
- -------------------------     and Administration and   
Todd Hagen                    Chief Financial Officer  
                              (Principal Financial     
                              and Accounting Officer)  
                              



  /s/ David Bunnell           Chairman of the Board                June 5, 1996
- -------------------------
David Bunnell



 /s/ John Griffin             Director                             June 5, 1996
- -------------------------
John Griffin



/s/ Greg Lahann               Director                             June 5, 1996
- -------------------------
Greg Lahann



/s/ Michael Kaufman           Director                             June 5, 1996
- -------------------------
Michael Kaufman





                                      II-5


<PAGE>



                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS






We  hereby  consent  to the  incorporation  by  reference  in  the  Registration
Statement  on Form S-8 of  HyperMedia  Communications,  Inc. of our report dated
February  12,  1996  except  for notes 5 and 6 which  are as of March  21,  1996
appearing  on page 22 of the 1995 Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1995.


PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP



San Mateo, California
June 6, 1996



                                      II-6

<PAGE>
<TABLE>



                                            HYPERMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                                          REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

                                                   INDEX TO EXHIBITS



<CAPTION>

                                                                                                  
     EXHIBIT                                                                                      
     NUMBER                                     DESCRIPTION                                       
     -------       ----------------------------------------------------------------------------   
<S>                <C>                                                                            
       4.1*        1991 STOCK PLAN.............................................................

       4.2*        1993 DIRECTOR OPTION PLAN...................................................

       4.3         1996 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN...........................................

       5.1         OPINION OF WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI AS TO LEGALITY OF
                   SECURITIES BEING REGISTERED.................................................

      23.1         CONSENT OF PRICE WAREHOUSE LLP (SEE PAGE II-6)..............................

      23.2         CONSENT OF WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI (CONTAINED IN
                   EXHIBIT 5.1)................................................................

      24.1         POWER OF ATTORNEY (SEE PAGE II-4)...........................................

<FN>
- -------------------------------------------------
*    INCORPORATED   BY  REFERENCE  TO  THE  EXHIBIT  FILED  WITH  THE  COMPANY'S
     REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8, AS AMENDED (REGISTRATION  STATEMENT NO.
     33-77454), DECLARED EFFECTIVE ON APRIL 6, 1994.
</FN>
</TABLE>




                         HYPERMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                        1996 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN


         The following  constitute  the  provisions  of the 1996 Employee  Stock
Purchase Plan of HyperMedia Communications, Inc..

         1.  Purpose.  The  purpose of the Plan is to provide  employees  of the
Company and its Designated  Subsidiaries  with an opportunity to purchase Common
Stock of the Company through accumulated payroll deductions. It is the intention
of the Company to have the Plan qualify as an  "Employee  Stock  Purchase  Plan"
under  Section  423 of the  Internal  Revenue  Code of  1986,  as  amended.  The
provisions  of the Plan,  accordingly,  shall be  construed  so as to extend and
limit participation in a manner consistent with the requirements of that section
of the Code.

         2.       Definitions.

                  (a) "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

                  (b) "Code"  shall mean the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as
amended.

                  (c) "Common Stock" shall mean the Common Stock of the Company.

                  (d) "Company" shall mean HyperMedia  Communications,  Inc. and
any Designated Subsidiary of the Company.

                  (e)  "Compensation"  shall mean all base  straight  time gross
earnings and  commissions,  exclusive of payments for overtime,  shift  premium,
incentive compensation, incentive payments, bonuses and other compensation.

                  (f)  "Designated  Subsidiaries"  shall  mean the  Subsidiaries
which have been designated by the Board from time to time in its sole discretion
as eligible to participate in the Plan.

                  (g) "Employee" shall mean any individual who is an Employee of
the Company for tax purposes whose  customary  employment with the Company is at
least  twenty (20) hours per week and more than five (5) months in any  calendar
year. For purposes of the Plan, the employment  relationship shall be treated as
continuing  intact  while  the  individual  is on sick  leave or other  leave of
absence  approved by the Company.  Where the period of leave exceeds 90 days and
the individual's right to reemployment is not guaranteed either by statute or by
contract, the employment  relationship shall be deemed to have terminated on the
91st day of such leave.

                  (h)  "Enrollment  Date"  shall  mean  the  first  day of  each
Offering Period.

                  (i)  "Exercise  Date" shall mean the last day of each Offering
Period.

                  (j) "Fair Market Value" shall mean, as of any date,  the value
of Common Stock determined as follows:



<PAGE>



                           (1) If the Common Stock is listed on any  established
stock exchange or a national  market system,  including  without  limitation the
Nasdaq National Market or The Nasdaq SmallCap Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market,
its Fair Market  Value  shall be the closing  sales price for such stock (or the
closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or system for
the last market trading day prior to the time of  determination,  as reported in
The  Wall  Street  Journal  or such  other  source  as the  Administrator  deems
reliable, or;

                           (2) If the  Common  Stock is  regularly  quoted  by a
recognized  securities  dealer but  selling  prices are not  reported,  its Fair
Market  Value  shall be the mean of the  closing  bid and asked  prices  for the
Common Stock on the date of such  determination,  as reported in The Wall Street
Journal or such other source as the Board deems reliable, or;

                           (3) In the absence of an  established  market for the
Common Stock, the Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined in good faith by
the Board.

                  (k) "Offering Period" shall mean a period of approximately six
(6)  months,  commencing  on  the  first  Trading  Day  on or  after  June 1 and
terminating on the last Trading Day in the period ending the following  November
30,  or  commencing  on  the  first  Trading  Day  on or  after  December  1 and
terminating  on the last Trading Day in the period  ending the following May 31,
during  which an  option  granted  pursuant  to the Plan may be  exercised.  The
duration of Offering Periods may be changed pursuant to Section 4 of this Plan.

                  (l) "Plan" shall mean this Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

                  (m) "Purchase  Price" shall mean an amount equal to 85% of the
Fair Market  Value of a share of Common Stock on the  Enrollment  Date or on the
Exercise Date, whichever is lower.

                  (n) "Reserves" shall mean the number of shares of Common Stock
covered by each option under the Plan which have not yet been  exercised and the
number of shares of Common Stock which have been  authorized  for issuance under
the Plan but not yet placed under option.

                  (o)  "Subsidiary"  shall  mean  a  corporation,   domestic  or
foreign, of which not less than 50% of the voting shares are held by the Company
or a  Subsidiary,  whether or not such  corporation  now exists or is  hereafter
organized or acquired by the Company or a Subsidiary.

                  (p)  "Trading  Day" shall mean a day on which  national  stock
exchanges and the Nasdaq System are open for trading.

         3.       Eligibility.

                  (a) Any  Employee (as defined in Section  2(g)),  who shall be
employed  by the  Company  on a given  Enrollment  Date  shall  be  eligible  to
participate in the Plan.



                                       -2-

<PAGE>



                  (b)   Any   provisions   of   the   Plan   to   the   contrary
notwithstanding,  no Employee  shall be granted an option  under the Plan (i) to
the extent that, immediately after the grant, such Employee (or any other person
whose stock would be attributed to such Employee  pursuant to Section  424(d) of
the Code) would own capital stock of the Company and/or hold outstanding options
to  purchase  such  stock  possessing  five  percent  (5%) or more of the  total
combined  voting  power or  value of all  classes  of the  capital  stock of the
Company or of any  Subsidiary,  or (ii) to the extent  that his or her rights to
purchase  stock under all employee  stock  purchase plans of the Company and its
subsidiaries  accrues  at a rate  which  exceeds  Twenty-Five  Thousand  Dollars
($25,000)  worth of stock  (determined at the fair market value of the shares at
the time such option is granted) for each  calendar year in which such option is
outstanding at any time.

         4.  Offering  Periods.  The Plan shall be  implemented  by  consecutive
Offering Periods with a new Offering Period  commencing on the first Trading Day
on or after June 1 and December 1 each year,  or on such other date as the Board
shall determine,  and continuing  thereafter until terminated in accordance with
Section 19 hereof.  The Board  shall  have the power to change the  duration  of
Offering  Periods  (including  the  commencement  dates thereof) with respect to
future offerings  without  shareholder  approval if such change is made at least
five (5) days  prior to the scheduled  beginning of the first Offering Period to
be affected thereafter.

         5.       Participation.

                  (a) An eligible  Employee may become a participant in the Plan
by completing a subscription  agreement  authorizing  payroll  deductions in the
form of Exhibit A to this Plan and filing it with the Company's  payroll  office
prior to the applicable Enrollment Date.

                  (b) Payroll deductions for a participant shall commence on the
first payroll following the Enrollment Date and shall end on the last payroll in
the Offering  Period to which such  authorization  is applicable,  unless sooner
terminated by the participant as provided in Section 10 hereof.

         6.       Payroll Deductions.

                  (a) At the time a  participant  files his or her  subscription
agreement, he or she shall elect to have payroll deductions made on each pay day
during the Offering  Period in an amount not exceeding  fifteen percent (15%) of
the  Compensation  which he or she  receives on each pay day during the Offering
Period.

                  (b) All payroll  deductions  made for a  participant  shall be
credited  to his or her  account  under the Plan and shall be  withheld in whole
percentages  only. A participant may not make any additional  payments into such
account.

                  (c) A participant may discontinue his or her  participation in
the Plan as provided in Section 10 hereof,  or may increase or decrease the rate
of his or her payroll  deductions  during the Offering  Period by  completing or
filing with the Company a new subscription agreement authorizing a


                                       -3-

<PAGE>



change in payroll deduction rate, except that no changes may be made in the last
two weeks of the Offering  Period.  The Board may, in its discretion,  limit the
number of participation  rate changes during any Offering Period.  The change in
rate shall be effective  with the first full payroll  period  following five (5)
business  days after the  Company's  receipt of the new  subscription  agreement
unless  the  Company  elects to  process a given  change in  participation  more
quickly.  A  participant's  subscription  agreement  shall  remain in effect for
successive Offering Periods unless terminated as provided in Section 10 hereof.

                  (d) Notwithstanding the foregoing,  to the extent necessary to
comply  with  Section   423(b)(8)  of  the  Code  and  Section  3(b)  hereof,  a
participant's  payroll  deductions may be decreased to zero percent (0%) at such
time during any  Offering  Period  which is  scheduled to end during the current
calendar year (the "Current  Offering Period") that the aggregate of all payroll
deductions  which were  previously  used to  purchase  stock under the Plan in a
prior  Offering  Period which ended during that  calendar  year plus all payroll
deductions  accumulated  with  respect  to the  Current  Offering  Period  equal
$21,250.  Payroll  deductions  shall  recommence  at the rate  provided  in such
participant's  subscription  agreement at the  beginning  of the first  Offering
Period  which  is  scheduled  to end  in the  following  calendar  year,  unless
terminated by the participant as provided in Section 10 hereof.

                  (e) At the time the option is exercised,  in whole or in part,
or at the time some or all of the  Company's  Common Stock issued under the Plan
is disposed of, the participant  must make adequate  provision for the Company's
federal, state, or other tax withholding  obligations,  if any, which arise upon
the exercise of the option or the  disposition of the Common Stock. At any time,
the Company may, but shall not be obligated to, withhold from the  participant's
compensation the amount necessary for the Company to meet applicable withholding
obligations, including any withholding required to make available to the Company
any tax  deductions or benefits  attributable  to sale or early  disposition  of
Common Stock by the Employee.

         7. Grant of Option.  On the  Enrollment  Date of each Offering  Period,
each eligible Employee participating in such Offering Period shall be granted an
option  to  purchase  on the  Exercise  Date of  such  Offering  Period  (at the
applicable  Purchase  Price) up to a number of  shares of the  Company's  Common
Stock  determined by dividing such  Employee's  payroll  deductions  accumulated
prior to such Exercise Date and retained in the Participant's  account as of the
Exercise Date by the applicable Purchase Price;  provided that in no event shall
an Employee be permitted  to purchase  during each  Offering  Period more than a
number of Shares  determined  by dividing  $12,500 by the Fair Market Value of a
share of the Company's Common Stock on the Enrollment Date, and provided further
that such  purchase  shall be subject to the  limitations  set forth in Sections
3(b) and 12 hereof.  Exercise of the option shall occur as provided in Section 8
hereof,  unless the participant has withdrawn pursuant to Section 10 hereof. The
Option shall expire on the last day of the Offering Period.

         8.       Exercise of Option.  Unless a participant  withdraws  from the
Plan as  provided  in Section 10 hereof,  his or her option for the  purchase of
shares shall be exercised  automatically  on the Exercise  Date, and the maximum
number of full shares subject to option shall be purchased for such


                                       -4-

<PAGE>



participant  at the  applicable  Purchase  Price  with the  accumulated  payroll
deductions in his or her account.  No fractional shares shall be purchased;  any
payroll  deductions  accumulated  in  a  participant's  account  which  are  not
sufficient  to  purchase a full share  shall be  retained  in the  participant's
account for the subsequent Offering Period, subject to earlier withdrawal by the
participant  as provided in Section 10 hereof.  Any other  monies left over in a
participant's  account  after  the  Exercise  Date  shall  be  returned  to  the
participant. During a participant's lifetime, a participant's option to purchase
shares hereunder is exercisable only by him or her.

         9.       Delivery.  As promptly as practicable after each Exercise Date
on which a purchase of shares occurs,  the Company shall arrange the delivery to
each  participant,  as  appropriate,  of a certificate  representing  the shares
purchased upon exercise of his or her option.

         10.      Withdrawal; Termination of Employment.

                  (a) A  participant  may withdraw all but not less than all the
payroll  deductions  credited to his or her account and not yet used to exercise
his or her option  under the Plan at any time prior to the last two weeks of the
Offering Period by giving written notice to the Company in the form of Exhibit B
to this Plan. All of the participant's payroll deductions credited to his or her
account shall be paid to such  participant  promptly  after receipt of notice of
withdrawal  and such  participant's  option  for the  Offering  Period  shall be
automatically terminated,  and no further payroll deductions for the purchase of
shares shall be made for such Offering Period.  If a participant  withdraws from
an Offering Period,  payroll deductions shall not resume at the beginning of the
succeeding Offering Period unless the participant  delivers to the Company a new
subscription agreement.

                  (b) Upon a participant's ceasing to be an Employee (as defined
in  Section  2(g)  hereof)  for any  reason,  he or she  shall be deemed to have
elected to withdraw  from the Plan and the payroll  deductions  credited to such
participant's  account  during the Offering  Period but not yet used to exercise
the option shall be returned to such  participant  or, in the case of his or her
death, to the person or persons  entitled  thereto under Section 14 hereof,  and
such  participant's  option shall be  automatically  terminated.  The  preceding
sentence  notwithstanding,  a participant who receives payment in lieu of notice
of  termination  of employment  shall be treated as continuing to be an Employee
for the  participant's  customary number of hours per week of employment  during
the  period in which the  participant  is  subject  to such  payment  in lieu of
notice.

                  (c) A  participant's  withdrawal from an Offering Period shall
not have any effect upon his or her  eligibility  to  participate in any similar
plan which may  hereafter  be adopted by the Company or in  succeeding  Offering
Periods which commence after the  termination of the Offering  Period from which
the participant withdraws.

         11.      Interest.  No interest shall accrue on the payroll  deductions
of a participant in the Plan.



                                       -5-

<PAGE>



         12.      Stock.

                  (a) The maximum number of shares of the Company's Common Stock
which shall be made available for sale under the Plan shall be one hundred fifty
thousand (150,000) shares,  subject to adjustment upon changes in capitalization
of the Company as provided in Section 18 hereof.  If, on a given  Exercise Date,
the number of shares with respect to which  options are to be exercised  exceeds
the number of shares then available under the Plan, the Company shall make a pro
rata allocation of the shares  remaining  available for purchase in as uniform a
manner as shall be practicable and as it shall determine to be equitable.

                  (b) The participant  shall have no interest or voting right in
shares covered by his option until such option has been exercised.

                  (c) Shares to be  delivered  to a  participant  under the Plan
shall  be  registered  in the  name  of the  participant  or in the  name of the
participant and his or her spouse.

         13.      Administration.

                  (a) Administrative Body. The Plan shall be administered by the
Board or a committee of members of the Board  appointed by the Board.  The Board
or its  committee  shall  have full and  exclusive  discretionary  authority  to
construe,  interpret and apply the terms of the Plan,  to determine  eligibility
and to  adjudicate  all  disputed  claims filed under the Plan.  Every  finding,
decision and determination made by the Board or its committee shall, to the full
extent permitted by law, be final and binding upon all parties.

                  (b) Rule 16b-3 Limitations.  Notwithstanding the provisions of
Subsection  (a) of this  Section  13, in the event that Rule  16b-3  promulgated
under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange  Act"), or
any successor  provision ("Rule 16b-3") provides  specific  requirements for the
administrators  of plans of this type,  the Plan shall be  administered  only by
such  a body  and  in  such  a  manner  as  shall  comply  with  the  applicable
requirements  of Rule  16b-3.  Unless  permitted  by Rule 16b-3,  no  discretion
concerning  decisions  regarding  the Plan shall be afforded to any committee or
person that is not "disinterested" as that term is used in Rule 16b-3.

         14.      Designation of Beneficiary.

                  (a)  A  participant  may  file  a  written  designation  of  a
beneficiary   who  is  to  receive  any  shares  and  cash,  if  any,  from  the
participant's  account under the Plan in the event of such parti  cipant's death
subsequent  to an Exercise  Date on which the option is  exercised  but prior to
delivery to such participant of such shares and cash. In addition, a participant
may file a written  designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any cash from
the  participant's  account  under the Plan in the  event of such  participant's
death  prior to  exercise of the  option.  If a  participant  is married and the
designated  beneficiary is not the spouse, spousal consent shall be required for
such designation to be effective.



                                       -6-

<PAGE>



                  (b) Such  designation  of  beneficiary  may be  changed by the
participant  at any time by  written  notice.  In the  event  of the  death of a
participant  and in the absence of a beneficiary  validly  designated  under the
Plan who is living at the time of such  participant's  death,  the Company shall
deliver such shares and/or cash to the executor or  administrator  of the estate
of the participant,  or if no such executor or administrator  has been appointed
(to the knowledge of the Company),  the Company, in its discretion,  may deliver
such  shares  and/or  cash to the  spouse  or to any one or more  dependents  or
relatives of the participant, or if no spouse, dependent or relative is known to
the Company, then to such other person as the Company may designate.

         15.   Transferability.   Neither  payroll  deductions   credited  to  a
participant's account nor any rights with regard to the exercise of an option or
to  receive  shares  under the Plan may be  assigned,  transferred,  pledged  or
otherwise  disposed of in any way (other  than by will,  the laws of descent and
distribution or as provided in Section 14 hereof) by the  participant.  Any such
attempt at assignment,  transfer,  pledge or other  disposition shall be without
effect,  except  that the  Company may treat such act as an election to withdraw
funds from an Offering Period in accordance with Section 10 hereof.

         16.      Use of Funds. All payroll  deductions  received or held by the
Company under the Plan may be used by the Company for any corporate purpose, and
the Company shall not be obligated to segregate such payroll deductions.

         17.      Reports.  Individual  accounts  shall be  maintained  for each
participant in the Plan.  Statements of account shall be given to  participating
Employees at least  annually,  which  statements  shall set forth the amounts of
payroll  deductions,  the Purchase Price, the number of shares purchased and the
remaining cash balance, if any.

         18.      Adjustments  Upon  Changes  in  Capitalization,   Liquidation,
                  Dissolution, Merger or Asset Sale.

                  (a) Changes in Capitalization.  Subject to any required action
by the shareholders of the Company,  the Reserves as well as the price per share
of Common  Stock  covered by each  option  under the Plan which has not yet been
exercised shall be proportionately  adjusted for any increase or decrease in the
number of issued shares of Common Stock  resulting  from a stock split,  reverse
stock split,  stock  dividend,  combination  or  reclassification  of the Common
Stock, or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock
effected  without receipt of consideration  by the Company;  provided,  however,
that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed
to have been "effected without receipt of consideration".  Such adjustment shall
be made by the  Board,  whose  determination  in that  respect  shall be  final,
binding and conclusive.  Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the
Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities  convertible  into shares
of stock of any class,  shall affect,  and no adjustment by reason thereof shall
be made with respect to, the number or price of shares of Common  Stock  subject
to an option.



                                       -7-

<PAGE>



                  (b) Dissolution or  Liquidation.  In the event of the proposed
dissolution or liquidation of the Company,  the Offering  Period shall terminate
immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action,  unless otherwise
provided by the Board.

                  (c) Merger or Asset Sale.  In the event of a proposed  sale of
all or  substantially  all of the  assets of the  Company,  or the merger of the
Company  with or into another  corporation,  each option under the Plan shall be
assumed  or  an  equivalent  option  shall  be  substituted  by  such  successor
corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such successor corporation,  unless the
Board  determines,  in the exercise of its sole  discretion  and in lieu of such
assumption or  substitution,  to shorten the Offering Period then in progress by
setting  a new  Exercise  Date  (the "New  Exercise  Date")  or to  cancel  each
outstanding  right to purchase and refund all sums collected  from  participants
during the Offering Period then in progress.  If the Board shortens the Offering
Period then in progress in lieu of assumption or  substitution in the event of a
merger or sale of assets, the Board shall notify each participant in writing, at
least ten (10) business days prior to the New Exercise  Date,  that the Exercise
Date for his  option  has been  changed  to the New  Exercise  Date and that his
option shall be exercised  automatically on the New Exercise Date,  unless prior
to such date he has withdrawn from the Offering Period as provided in Section 10
hereof.  For purposes of this paragraph,  an option granted under the Plan shall
be deemed to be assumed if,  following the sale of assets or merger,  the option
confers the right to  purchase,  for each share of option  stock  subject to the
option  immediately  prior to the sale of assets or  merger,  the  consideration
(whether stock,  cash or other  securities or property)  received in the sale of
assets or merger by holders of Common  Stock for each share of Common Stock held
on the  effective  date of the  transaction  (and if such holders were offered a
choice of  consideration,  the type of consideration  chosen by the holders of a
majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock); provided,  however, that if
such  consideration  received  in the sale of assets or  merger  was not  solely
common stock of the successor  corporation  or its parent (as defined in Section
424(e)  of the  Code),  the  Board  may,  with  the  consent  of  the  successor
corporation,  provide for the  consideration to be received upon exercise of the
option to be solely  common  stock of the  successor  corporation  or its parent
equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of
Common Stock and the sale of assets or merger.

         The  Board  may,  if it so  determines  in the  exercise  of  its  sole
discretion, also make provision for adjusting the Reserves, as well as the price
per share of Common Stock covered by each out standing option,  in the event the
Company effects one or more reorganizations, recapitalizations, rights offerings
or other increases or reductions of shares of its outstanding  Common Stock, and
in the event of the  Company  being  consolidated  with or merged into any other
corporation.

         19.      Amendment or Termination.

                  (a) The Board of  Directors of the Company may at any time and
for any reason  terminate  or amend the Plan.  Except as  provided in Section 18
hereof, no such termination can affect options previously granted, provided that
an Offering  Period may be  terminated by the Board of Directors on any Exercise
Date if the Board  determines  that the  termination  of the Plan is in the best
interests of the Company and its shareholders.  Except as provided in Section 18
hereof, no amendment may make any change in any option theretofore granted which
adversely affects the rights


                                       -8-

<PAGE>



of any  participant.  To the extent necessary to comply with Rule 16b-3 or under
Section  423 of the  Code  (or any  successor  rule or  provision  or any  other
applicable law or regulation),  the Company shall obtain shareholder approval in
such a manner and to such a degree as required.

                  (b) Without  shareholder consent and without regard to whether
any participant rights may be considered to have been "adversely  affected," the
Board (or its committee) shall be entitled to change the Offering Periods, limit
the frequency and/or number of changes in the amount withheld during an Offering
Period,  establish  the  exchange  ratio  applicable  to amounts  withheld  in a
currency other than U.S.  dollars,  permit payroll  withholding in excess of the
amount  designated by a participant in order to adjust for delays or mistakes in
the Company's processing of properly completed withholding elections,  establish
reasonable  waiting and  adjustment  periods  and/or  accounting  and  crediting
procedures  to ensure that amounts  applied  toward the purchase of Common Stock
for  each  participant  properly  correspond  with  amounts  withheld  from  the
participant's  Compensation,  and establish such other limitations or procedures
as the Board (or its  committee)  determines  in its sole  discretion  advisable
which are consistent with the Plan.

         20. Notices.  All notices or other  communications  by a participant to
the Company  under or in  connection  with the Plan shall be deemed to have been
duly given when  received in the form  specified by the Company at the location,
or by the person, designated by the Company for the receipt thereof.

         21. Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares. Shares shall not be issued with
respect to an option  unless the  exercise of such option and the  issuance  and
delivery of such  shares  pursuant  thereto  shall  comply  with all  applicable
provisions  of law,  domestic or foreign,  including,  without  limitation,  the
Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended,  the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder,  and the requirements
of any stock  exchange  upon which the  shares may then be listed,  and shall be
further  subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such
compliance.

         As a condition  to the  exercise of an option,  the Company may require
the person  exercising  such option to represent  and warrant at the time of any
such  exercise  that the  shares are being pur chased  only for  investment  and
without  any  present  intention  to sell or  distribute  such shares if, in the
opinion of counsel for the Company,  such a representation is required by any of
the aforementioned applicable provisions of law.

         22. Term of Plan.  The Plan shall become  effective upon the earlier to
occur  of its  adoption  by the  Board  of  Directors  or  its  approval  by the
shareholders of the Company.  It shall continue in effect for a term of ten (10)
years unless sooner terminated under Section 19 hereof.



                                       -9-

<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBIT A


                         HYPERMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                        1996 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

                             SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT



_____ Original Application                           Enrollment Date: __________
_____ Change in Payroll Deduction Rate
_____ Change of Beneficiary(ies)


1.       _____________________________________  hereby elects to  participate in
         the HyperMedia  Communications,  Inc.1996  Employee Stock Purchase Plan
         (the "Employee  Stock Purchase Plan") and subscribes to purchase shares
         of the  Company's  Common Stock in  accordance  with this  Subscription
         Agreement and the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

2.       I hereby authorize payroll  deductions from each paycheck in the amount
         of ____% of my  Compensation  on each  payday  (not to  exceed  _____%)
         during  the  Offering  Period in  accordance  with the  Employee  Stock
         Purchase  Plan.  (Please  note  that  no  fractional   percentages  are
         permitted.)

3.       I understand that said payroll  deductions shall be accumulated for the
         purchase of shares of Common  Stock at the  applicable  Purchase  Price
         determined  in  accordance  with the Employee  Stock  Purchase  Plan. I
         understand  that if I do not  withdraw  from an  Offering  Period,  any
         accumulated  payroll deductions will be used to automatically  exercise
         my option.

4.       I have received a copy of the complete  Employee Stock Purchase Plan. I
         understand that my participation in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan is
         in all respects  subject to the terms of the Plan. I understand that my
         ability to exercise  the option  under this  Subscription  Agreement is
         subject to shareholder approval of the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

5.       Shares  purchased for me under the Employee  Stock Purchase Plan should
         be issued in the name(s) of (Employee or Employee and Spouse only): .

6.       I understand that if I dispose of any shares received by me pursuant to
         the Plan within 2 years after the Enrollment Date (the first day of the
         Offering  Period  during  which I  purchased  such  shares),  I will be
         treated for federal  income tax  purposes as having  received  ordinary
         income at the time of such disposition in an amount equal to the excess
         of the fair  market  value of the shares at the time such  shares  were
         purchased  by me over the price which I paid for the  shares.  I hereby
         agree to notify the Company in writing within 30 days after the date of
         any  disposition  of shares  and I will  make  adequate  provision  for
         Federal,  state or other tax  withholding  obligations,  if any,  which
         arise upon the disposition of the Common Stock. The



<PAGE>



         Company  may,  but  will  not  be  obligated   to,   withhold  from  my
         compensation  the amount  necessary to meet any applicable  withholding
         obligation including any withholding necessary to make available to the
         Company any tax  deductions or benefits  attributable  to sale or early
         disposition  of Common  Stock by me. If I dispose of such shares at any
         time after the  expiration of the 2-year holding  period,  I understand
         that I will be  treated  for  federal  income  tax  purposes  as having
         received  income  only at the time of such  disposition,  and that such
         income will be taxed as ordinary income only to the extent of an amount
         equal to the lesser of (1) the excess of the fair  market  value of the
         shares at the time of such  disposition over the purchase price which I
         paid for the shares,  or (2) 15% of the fair market value of the shares
         on the first day of the Offering Period.  The remainder of the gain, if
         any, recognized on such disposition will be taxed as capital gain.

7.       I hereby agree to be bound by the terms of the Employee  Stock Purchase
         Plan. The  effectiveness  of this  Subscription  Agreement is dependent
         upon my eligibility to participate in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

8.       In the  event of my  death,  I hereby  designate  the  following  as my
         beneficiary(ies)  to receive all  payments  and shares due me under the
         Employee Stock Purchase Plan:



NAME:  (Please print) _____________________________________________
                      (First)           (Middle)        (Last)



_________________________                   ____________________________________
Relationship
                                            ____________________________________
                                                     (Address)


Employee's Social
Security Number:                            ____________________________________



Employee's Address:                         ____________________________________

                                            ____________________________________

                                            ____________________________________




                                       -2-

<PAGE>



I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS SUBSCRIPTION  AGREEMENT SHALL REMAIN IN EFFECT THROUGHOUT
SUCCESSIVE OFFERING PERIODS UNLESS TERMINATED BY ME.



Dated: ___________________                  __________________________________
                                            Signature of Employee



                                            ____________________________________
                                            Spouse's Signature
                                            (If beneficiary other than spouse)






                                       -3-

<PAGE>


                                    EXHIBIT B


                         HYPERMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                        1996 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

                              NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL


         The  undersigned  participant in the Offering  Period of the HyperMedia
Communications,   Inc.  1996  Employee   Stock  Purchase  Plan  which  began  on
___________  19____ (the "Enrollment  Date") hereby notifies the Company that he
or she hereby withdraws from the Offering  Period.  He or she hereby directs the
Company to pay to the  undersigned  as promptly as  practicable  all the payroll
deductions  credited to his or her account with respect to such Offering Period.
The undersigned  understands and agrees that his or her option for such Offering
Period will be automatically  terminated.  The undersigned  understands  further
that no further  payroll  deductions  will be made for the purchase of shares in
the current Offering Period and the undersigned shall be eligible to participate
in  succeeding  Offering  Periods  only  by  delivering  to  the  Company  a new
Subscription Agreement.


                                   Name and Address of Participant:

                                   _______________________________

                                   _______________________________

                                   _______________________________



                                   Signature:

                                   _______________________________


                                   Date: _________________________





                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1




                                  June 6, 1996


HyperMedia Communications, Inc.
901 Mariner's Island Blvd., Suite 365
San Mateo, CA 94404


         RE:      REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

Ladies & Gentlemen:

         We have examined the Registration  Statement on Form S-8 to be filed by
you with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission on or about June 7, 1996 (the
"Registration   Statement")  in  connection  with  the  registration  under  the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  of 400,000 shares of your Common Stock (the
"Shares"),  200,000 of which are to be issued  pursuant  to the 1991 Stock Plan,
50,000 of which are to be issued  pursuant to the 1993 Director  Option Plan and
150,000 of which are to be issued  pursuant to the 1996 Employee  Stock Purchase
Plan  (together,  the  "Plans").  As your legal  counsel,  we have  examined the
proceedings proposed to be taken in connection with the issuance and sale of the
Shares to be issued under the Plans.

         It is our opinion  that the Shares,  when issued and sold in the manner
referred to in the Plans and  pursuant to the  agreements  which  accompany  the
Plans, will be legally and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

         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 any Prospectus  constituting a part thereof,
and any amendments thereto.

                                         Very truly yours,

                                         WILSON, SONSINI, GOODRICH & ROSATI
                                         Professional Corporation






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