As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 11, 2011

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

GEVO, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   87-0747704

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

345 Inverness Drive South, Building C, Suite 310

Englewood, CO 80112

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)(Zip Code)

 

 

2006 Omnibus Securities and Incentive Plan

2010 Stock Incentive Plan

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

(Full titles of the plans)

 

 

Patrick R. Gruber, Ph.D.

Chief Executive Officer

Gevo, Inc.

345 Inverness Drive South, Building C, Suite 310

Englewood, CO 80112

(Name and address of agent for service)

(303) 858-8358

(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copy to:

Deyan Spiridonov, Esq.

Teri O’Brien, Esq.

Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP

4747 Executive Drive, 12 th Floor

San Diego, California 92121

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)   x    Smaller reporting company   ¨

 

 

Title of securities

to be registered

 

Amount

to be

registered(1)

 

Proposed

maximum

offering price

per share

 

Proposed

maximum

aggregate

offering price

 

Amount of

registration fee

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

  2,894,265 shares(2)   $2.84(3)   $8,219,713(3)   $954.31

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

  2,571,286 shares(4)   $18.94(5)   $48,700,157(5)   $5,654.09

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

  1,285,643 shares(6)   $18.94(5)   $24,350,079(5)   $2,827.04
 
 
(1) Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement also covers any additional shares of the Common Stock of Gevo, Inc. (the “Registrant”) that may be offered or issued under the plans to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, or similar transactions.
(2) Represents shares of Common Stock reserved for future issuance under the Registrant’s 2006 Omnibus Securities and Incentive Plan (the “2006 Plan”) upon the exercise of outstanding options granted under the 2006 Plan. No further option grants will be made under the 2006 Plan and to the extent outstanding awards under the 2006 Plan expire, or are forfeited, cancelled, settled, or become unexercisable without the issuance of shares, the shares of Common Stock subject to such awards will be available for future issuance under the Registrant’s 2010 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2010 Plan”). See footnote 4 below.
(3) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act. The proposed maximum offering price per share and the proposed maximum aggregate offering price are calculated using a weighted average exercise price of approximately $2.84 per share for options issued and outstanding under the 2006 Plan based on exercise prices for such shares ranging from $0.17 to $12.67 per share.
(4) Represents shares of Common Stock reserved for future grant under the 2010 Plan. To the extent outstanding awards under the 2006 Plan expire, or are forfeited, cancelled, settled, or become unexercisable without the issuance of shares, the shares of Common Stock subject to such awards will be available for future issuance under the 2010 Plan. See footnote 2 above.
(5) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(h) and Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act, based upon the average of the high and low prices of the Common Stock on March 9, 2011, as quoted on the NASDAQ Global Market.
(6) Represents shares of Common Stock reserved for future issuance under the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”). Pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act, this Registration Statement also covers an indeterminate amount of interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the ESPP.

 

 

This Registration Statement will become effective upon filing in accordance with Rule 462 under the Securities Act.

 

 

 


PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

The document(s) containing the information specified in Part I will be sent or given to employees as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) of the Securities Act. Such documents are not being filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 of the Securities Act. Such documents and the documents incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II hereof, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

The following documents filed with the Commission by the Registrant are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:

(a) The Registrant’s Prospectus dated February 8, 2011, filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act on February 10, 2011, which relates to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-168792) (as amended and including the exhibits thereto), which contains the Registrant’s audited financial statements for the latest fiscal year for which such statements have been filed; and

(b) The description of the Registrant’s Common Stock contained in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) on February 4, 2011, including any subsequent amendment or report filed for the purpose of amending such description.

All documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Registration Statement and 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, are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and are a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents; except as to any portion of any future annual or quarterly report to stockholders or document or current report furnished under current Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K that is not deemed filed under such provisions. Any statement 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 statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

Under no circumstances will any information filed under current Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K be deemed incorporated herein by reference unless such Form 8-K expressly provides to the contrary.

 

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 Registrant’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Certificate”) and amended and restated bylaws (the “Bylaws”) provide that the Registrant will indemnify its directors and executive officers to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, which prohibits the Certificate from limiting the liability of the Registrant’s directors for the following:

 

   

any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Registrant or to its stockholders;

 

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acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

   

unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions; and

 

   

any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

If Delaware law is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director, then the liability of the Registrant’s directors will be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, as so amended. The Certificate does not eliminate a director’s duty of care and, in appropriate circumstances, equitable remedies, such as injunctive or other forms of nonmonetary relief, remain available under Delaware law. This provision also does not affect a director’s responsibilities under any other laws, such as the federal securities laws or other state or federal laws. Under the Bylaws, the Registrant is empowered to enter into indemnification agreements with its directors, officers, employees and other agents and to purchase insurance on behalf of any person whom the Registrant is required or permitted to indemnify.

In addition to the indemnification required in the Certificate and the Bylaws, the Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its current directors, officers and certain employees. These agreements provide for the indemnification of the Registrant’s directors, officers and certain employees for all reasonable expenses and liabilities incurred in connection with any action or proceeding brought against them by reason of the fact that they are or were agents of the Registrant. The Registrant believes that the provisions in the Certificate, the Bylaws and the indemnification agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers. Furthermore, the Registrant has obtained director and officer liability insurance to cover liabilities its directors and officers may incur in connection with their services to the Registrant.

 

Item 7. Exemption From Registration Claimed.

Not applicable.

 

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Item 8. Exhibits.

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

         

Previously Filed

    

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

  

Form

  

File No.

  

Filing Date

  

Exhibit

  

Filed

Herewith

  4.1    2006 Omnibus Securities and Incentive Plan.    S-1    333-168792    August 12, 2010    10.11   
  4.2    Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement under the 2006 Omnibus Securities and Incentive Plan.    S-1    333-168792    August 12, 2010    10.12   
  4.3    Form of Stock Option Agreement under the 2006 Omnibus Securities and Incentive Plan.    S-1    333-168792    August 12, 2010    10.13   
  4.4    Form of 2010 Stock Incentive Plan.    S-1    333-168792    January 19, 2011    10.14   
  4.5    Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the 2010 Stock Incentive Plan.    S-1    333-168792    January 19, 2011    10.15   
  4.6    Form of Stock Option Award Agreement under the 2010 Stock Incentive Plan.    S-1    333-168792    January 19, 2011    10.16   
  4.7    Employee Stock Purchase Plan, including form of Subscription Agreement.                X
  5.1    Opinion of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP.                X
23.1    Consent of Deloitte & Touche, LLP.                X
23.2    Consent of Deloitte & Touche, LLP.                X
23.3    Consent of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement).                X
24.1    Power of Attorney (contained on the signature pages of this Registration Statement).                X

 

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;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this 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 this 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

 

3


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 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective Registration Statement;

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

Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) of this section do not apply if the Registration Statement is on Form S-8, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this 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.

(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 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in this 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.

(h) 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 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 Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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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 Englewood, State of Colorado, on this 11th day of March, 2011.

 

GEVO, INC.
By:  

/s/ Patrick R. Gruber

 

Patrick R. Gruber

Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS , that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints, jointly and severally, Patrick R. Gruber and Mark Smith his or her attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of substitution, for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement on Form S-8 (or any other registration statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

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

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ Patrick R. Gruber

   Chief Executive Officer and Director   March 11, 2011
Patrick R. Gruber, Ph.D.    (Principal Executive Officer)    

/s/ Mark Smith

   Chief Financial Officer   March 11, 2011
Mark Smith    (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)    

/s/ Shai Weiss

   Chairman of the Board of Directors   March 11, 2011
Shai Weiss       

/s/ Véronique Hervouet

   Director   March 3, 2011
Véronique Hervouet       

/s/ Stacy J. Smith

   Director   March 9, 2011
Stacy J. Smith       

/s/ Ron Commander

   Director   March 11, 2011
Ron Commander, Ph.D.       

/s/ Bruce A. Smith

   Director  

March 8, 2011

Bruce A. Smith       

/s/ Carlos A. Cabrera

   Director   March 11, 2011
Carlos A. Cabrera       

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

         

Previously Filed

    

Exhibit

Number

  

Description

  

Form

  

File No.

  

Filing Date

  

Exhibit

  

Filed
Herewith

  4.1    2006 Omnibus Securities and Incentive Plan.    S-1    333-168792    August 12, 2010    10.11   
  4.2    Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement under the 2006 Omnibus Securities and Incentive Plan.    S-1    333-168792    August 12, 2010    10.12   
  4.3    Form of Stock Option Agreement under the 2006 Omnibus Securities and Incentive Plan.    S-1    333-168792    August 12, 2010    10.13   
  4.4    Form of 2010 Stock Incentive Plan.    S-1    333-168792    January 19, 2011    10.14   
  4.5    Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the 2010 Stock Incentive Plan.    S-1    333-168792    January 19, 2011    10.15   
  4.6    Form of Stock Option Award Agreement under the 2010 Stock Incentive Plan.    S-1    333-168792    January 19, 2011    10.16   
  4.7    Employee Stock Purchase Plan, including form of Subscription Agreement.                X
  5.1    Opinion of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP.                X
23.1    Consent of Deloitte & Touche, LLP.                X
23.2    Consent of Deloitte & Touche, LLP.                X
23.3    Consent of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement).                X
24.1    Power of Attorney (contained on the signature pages of this Registration Statement).                X

 

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Exhibit 4.7

GEVO, INC.

EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

(Effective as of February 14, 2011)

 

  I. PURPOSE

The Gevo, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ Plan ”) is intended to provide eligible employees of the Company and one or more of its Corporate Affiliates with the opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company through participation in a plan designed to qualify as an employee stock purchase plan under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code (the “ Code ”) (although the Company makes no undertaking or representation to maintain such qualification). Terms herein that begin with initial capital letters shall have the defined meaning set forth under Section II below, or elsewhere when the term first appears and is defined.

In addition, the Plan authorizes the grant of purchase rights which do not qualify under Code Section 423 pursuant to Addenda adopted by the Plan Administrator designed to achieve desired tax, securities law or other objectives for eligible employees of the Company or one or more of the Company’s Corporate Affiliates or Designated Affiliates.

 

  II. DEFINITIONS

For purposes of administration of the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

(a) “ Addenda ” means the rules, procedures or sub-plans, if any, adopted by the Plan Administrator as a part of the Sub-Plan, pursuant to which purchase rights that do not satisfy the requirements for “employee stock purchase plans” that are set forth under Code Section 423 may be granted to eligible employees in particular locations outside the United States pursuant to the Sub-Plan.

(b) “ Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

(c) “ Company ” means Gevo, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any corporate successor to all or substantially all of the assets or voting stock of Gevo, Inc. which shall by appropriate action adopt the Plan.

(d) “ Corporate Affiliate ” means any company which is either the parent corporation or a subsidiary corporation of the Company (as determined in accordance with Code Section 424), including any parent or subsidiary corporation which becomes such after the Effective Date.

(e) “ Designated Affiliate ” means any corporation, partnership, joint venture or other business entity in which the Company owns, directly or indirectly, stock or a capital or profit interest and with respect to which the Company possesses the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies.


(f) “ Effective Date ” means the later of (i) the date on which shareholders of the Company approve this Plan, and (ii) the date on which the Company consummates an initial public offering of its Shares.

(g) “ Eligible Earnings ” means (i) the regular basic earnings paid to a Participant by one or more Gevo Entities, (ii) any salary deferral contributions made on behalf of the Participant to a Code Section 401(k) Plan, Code Section 125 Plan or any nonqualified deferred compensation plan plus (iii) overtime payments, bonuses and commissions. There shall be excluded from the calculation of Eligible Earnings: (I) all distributions from profit-sharing, nonqualified deferred compensation, welfare benefits and other employee benefit plans and other incentive-type payments (other than bonuses and commissions) and (II) all contributions (other than salary deferral contributions made to a Code Section 401(k) Plan, Code Section 125 Plan, or any nonqualified deferred compensation plan) made by the Company or any other Gevo Entity for the Participant’s benefit under any employee benefit or welfare plan now or hereafter established.

(h) “ Employee ” means any person whom the Company or any other Participating Company classifies as an employee for purposes of Code Section 3401.

(i) “ Gevo Entity ” means the Company and all Corporate Affiliates and Designated Affiliates.

(j) “ Participant ” means any Employee of a Participating Company who is actively participating in the Plan.

(k) “ Participating Company ” means the Company and each and every Gevo Entity that may be designated from time to time by the Plan Administrator.

(l) “ Plan Administrator ” shall be the Company’s Compensation Committee of the Board, provided that the Board may at any time (i) appoint a person or other committee to serve in such capacity, and (ii) act in lieu of the Compensation Committee on any matter authorized for administrative action under the Plan.

(m) “ Stock ” means shares of the common stock of the Company.

(n) “ Sub-Plan ” means the Company’s International Employee Stock Purchase Plan (if and when established by the Plan Administrator).

 

  III. ADMINISTRATION

The Plan shall be administered by the Board or by the Plan Administrator. The Plan Administrator (whether the Board or the Committee) shall have full authority to administer the Plan, including authority to interpret and construe any provision of the Plan, to adopt such rules and regulations for administering the Plan as it may deem necessary in order to comply with the requirements of Code Section 423 and to adopt Addenda designed to achieve desired tax, securities law or other objectives for eligible employees of the Company or one or more of the Company’s Corporate Affiliates or Designated Affiliates in particular locations outside the United States. Decisions of the Plan Administrator (or its designate) shall be final and binding on all parties who have an interest in the Plan.


  IV. PURCHASE PERIODS

(a) Stock shall be offered for purchase under the Plan through a series of successive purchase periods until such time as (i) the maximum number of shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan and the Sub-Plan shall have been purchased or (ii) the Plan shall have been sooner terminated in accordance with Article IX.

(b) Under no circumstances shall any purchase rights granted under the Plan be exercised, nor shall any shares of Stock be issued hereunder, until such time as the Company shall have complied with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 (as amended), all applicable listing requirements of any securities exchange on which the Stock is listed and all other applicable requirements established by law or regulation.

(c) The Plan shall be implemented in a series of consecutive purchase periods, each to be of such duration (not to exceed twenty-four (24) months per purchase period) as determined by the Plan Administrator prior to the commencement date of the purchase period; provided that the first purchase period shall begin not sooner than the Effective Date and shall end on the last day of the first calendar month that begins thereafter, and with subsequent purchase periods coinciding with each subsequent calendar month, subject to the discretion of the Plan Administrator to prospectively (after at least 15 days advance notice to affected Employees) establish purchase periods at monthly, quarterly or semi-annual intervals over the term of the Plan. The Plan Administrator will announce the date each purchase period will commence and the duration of that purchase period in advance of the first day of such purchase period.

(d) The Participant shall be granted a separate purchase right for each purchase period in which he/she participates. The purchase right shall be granted on the first day of the purchase period and shall be automatically exercised on the last U.S. business day of that purchase period or any earlier day the purchase right is to be exercised hereunder.

(e) An Employee may participate in only one purchase period at a time. Accordingly, an Employee who wishes to join a new purchase period must withdraw from the current purchase period in which he/she is participating prior to the last day of the current purchase period in which the Employee participates and must also enroll in the new purchase period prior to the start date of that new purchase period at such time and in such manner as the Plan Administrator, in its discretion, requires. The Plan Administrator, in its discretion, may require an Employee who withdraws from one purchase period to wait one full purchase period before re-enrolling in a new purchase period under the Plan.

 

  V. ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

(a) Subject to Section VIII below, each individual who is an Employee of a Participating Company on the commencement date of any purchase period under the Plan shall be eligible to participate in the Plan for that purchase period, unless at the time the purchase period commences, the individual has been an Employee for less than one year. Unless otherwise determined by the Plan Administrator for any future purchase period, the Employees who are eligible to participate in the Plan must be Employees who are regularly scheduled to work more than twenty (20) hours per week, more than 550 hours per year, and more than five (5) months per calendar year.


(b) In order to participate in the Plan for a particular purchase period, the Employee must complete the enrollment forms prescribed by the Plan Administrator (including a subscription agreement and a payroll deduction authorization, the initial form of which are attached hereto under Appendix A ) and file such forms with the Plan Administrator (or its designate) no later than the day designated by the Plan Administrator in its discretion.

(c) The payroll deduction authorized by a Participant for purposes of acquiring Stock under the Plan may be any multiple of 1% of the Eligible Earnings of the Participant during the period the purchase right remains outstanding, up to a maximum equal to the lesser of (i) 10% of the Participant’s Eligible Earnings per purchase right (or U.S.$50 if greater), and (ii) 25% of the Participant’s Eligible Earnings that remain after subtracting all other amounts that are to be deducted or withheld from such Eligible Earnings per purchase right. The limitations of clause (ii) above in this Section V(c) shall only apply to this Plan and not to the Sub-Plan. The deduction rate so authorized shall continue in effect for the entire period the purchase right remains outstanding, unless the Participant shall, prior to the end of the purchase period for which the purchase right will remain in effect, reduce such rate by filing the appropriate form with the Plan Administrator (or its designate). The reduced rate shall become effective as soon as practicable following the filing of such form. Payroll deductions, however, will automatically cease upon the termination of the Participant’s purchase right in accordance with Sections VII(d) or (e) below.

 

  VI. STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN

(a) The Stock purchasable by Participants under the Plan shall be authorized but unissued Stock, or Stock purchased on the open market in arms’ length transactions in accordance with applicable securities laws. The total number of shares which may be issued under the Plan and the Sub-Plan attached hereto as Exhibit A including any Addenda, in the aggregate shall not exceed 1,285,643 shares (subject to adjustment under subparagraph (b) below).

(b) In the event any change is made to the Stock purchasable under the Plan by reason of (I) any merger, consolidation or reorganization or (II) any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, combination of shares or other change affecting the outstanding Stock as a class without the Company’s receipt of consideration, then unless such change occurs in connection with a Section VII(k) transaction, appropriate adjustments shall be made by the Plan Administrator to (i) the class and maximum number of shares issuable in the aggregate over the term of the Plan and the Sub-Plan, (ii) the class and maximum number of shares purchasable per Participant on any one purchase date, and (iii) the class and number of shares and the price per share of the Stock subject to each purchase right at the time outstanding under the Plan.

 

  VII. PURCHASE RIGHTS

An Employee who participates in the Plan for a particular purchase period shall have the right to purchase Stock upon the terms and conditions set forth below and shall execute a subscription agreement embodying such terms and conditions and such other provisions (not inconsistent with the Plan) as the Plan Administrator may deem advisable. A subscription agreement may provide that it shall remain in effect for indefinitely for future purchase periods, subject to (i) the individual’s


right to terminate the subscription agreement by written notice to the Plan Administrator in advance of a future purchase period, and (ii) the Plan Administrator’s discretion to determine during a purchase period, by written notice to all affected Participants, that all such subscription agreements shall prospectively expire at the end of that purchase period or a designated one thereafter.

(a) Purchase Price. The U.S. Dollar purchase price per share shall initially be 95% of the fair market value of the Stock on the last day of each applicable purchase period, provided that the Plan Administrator may before any future purchase period establish a different formula for determining the purchase price provided such price is at least equal to the lesser of (i) 85% of the fair market value per share of Stock on the date on which the purchase right is granted or (ii) 85% of the fair market value per share of Stock on the date the purchase right is exercised on the last day of the purchase period. For purposes of determining such fair market value (and for all other valuation purposes under the Plan), the fair market value per share of Stock on any relevant date shall be the closing selling price per share on such date, as officially quoted on the principal exchange on which the Stock is at the time traded or, if not traded on any such exchange, the closing selling price per share of the Stock on such date, as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market. If there are no sales of Stock on such day, then the closing selling price for the Stock on the next preceding day for which there does exist such quotation shall be determinative of fair market value.

(b) Number of Purchasable Shares. The number of shares purchasable by a Participant upon the exercise of an outstanding purchase right shall be the number of whole shares obtained by dividing the amount collected from the Participant through payroll deductions during each purchase period the purchase right remains outstanding by the purchase price in effect for that purchase period. Any remaining amount in the Participant’s account shall be automatically refunded to the Participant. Under no circumstances shall purchase rights be granted under the Plan to any Employee if such Employee would, immediately after the grant, own (within the meaning of Code Section 425(d)), or hold outstanding options or other rights to purchase, stock possessing 5% or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or any of its Corporate Affiliates. In addition, the accrual limitations of Section VIII shall apply to all purchase rights.

(c) Payment. Payment for Stock purchased under the Plan shall be effected by means of the Participant’s authorized payroll deductions. Such deductions shall begin on the first pay day coincident with or immediately following the commencement date of the relevant purchase period and, unless terminated earlier pursuant to Sections VII(d) or (e) below, shall terminate with the pay day ending with or immediately prior to the last day of the purchase period. The amounts so collected shall be credited to the book account maintained by the Company on the Participant’s behalf under the Plan, but no interest shall be paid on the balance from time to time outstanding in such book account. The amounts collected from a Participant may be commingled with the general assets of the Company and may be used for general corporate purposes.

(d) Withdrawal from Purchase Period .

(i) A Participant may withdraw from a purchase period by filing the prescribed notification form with the Plan Administrator (or its designate) on or prior to the date required by the Plan Administrator in its discretion. No further payroll deductions shall be collected from the Participant with respect to that purchase period, and the Participant shall have the following election with respect to any payroll deductions for the purchase period collected prior to the withdrawal date:


(A) have the Company refund, in the currency originally collected, the payroll deductions which the Participant made under the Plan during that purchase period or (B) have such payroll deductions held for the purchase of shares at the end of such purchase period. If no such election is made, then such payroll deductions shall automatically be refunded at the end of such purchase period, in the currency originally collected.

(ii) The Participant’s withdrawal from a particular purchase period shall be irrevocable and shall also require the Participant to re-enroll in the Plan (by making a timely filing of a new subscription agreement and payroll deduction authorization) if the Participant wishes to resume participation in a subsequent purchase period.

(e) Termination of Employment/Leave of Absence. Except as provided in Section VII(l) below, if a Participant ceases to remain an Employee while his/her purchase right remains outstanding, then such purchase right shall immediately terminate and all sums previously collected from the Participant during the purchase period in which such termination occurs shall be promptly refunded to the Participant. However, should the Participant die or become permanently disabled while in Employee status or should the Participant cease active service by reason of a leave of absence, then the Participant (or the person or persons to whom the rights of the deceased Participant under the Plan are transferred by will or by the laws of descent and distribution) shall have the election, exercisable up until the end of the purchase period in which the Participant dies or becomes permanently disabled or in which the leave of absence commences, to (i) withdraw all the funds in the Participant’s payroll account at the time of his/her cessation of Employee status or the commencement of such leave or (ii) have such funds held for the purchase of shares at the end of such purchase period. If no such election is made, then such funds shall automatically be held for the purchase of shares at the end of such purchase period. In no event, however, shall any further payroll deductions be added to the Participant’s account following his/her cessation of Employee status or the commencement of such leave. Should the Participant return to active service (x) within ninety (90) days following the commencement of his/her leave of absence or (y) prior to the expiration of any longer period for which such Participant’s right to reemployment with the Company is guaranteed by statute or contract, then his/her payroll deductions under the Plan shall automatically resume upon his/her return at the rate in effect at the time the leave began, and if a new purchase period begins during the period of the leave, then the Participant will automatically be enrolled in that purchase period at the rate of payroll deduction in effect for him/her at the time the leave commenced, but payroll deductions for that purchase period shall not actually begin until the Participant returns to active service. However, an individual who returns to active employment following a leave of absence that exceeds in duration the applicable (x) or (y) time period will be treated as a new Employee for purposes of subsequent participation in the Plan and must accordingly re-enroll in the Plan (by making a timely filing of the prescribed enrollment forms) on or before the start date of any subsequent purchase period in which he or she wishes to participate.

For purposes of the Plan: (a) a Participant shall be considered to be an Employee for so long as such Participant remains in the active employ of the Company or any other Participating Company under the Plan, and (b) a Participant shall be deemed to be permanently disabled if he/she is unable, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment expected to result in death or to be of continuous duration of at least twelve (12) months, to engage in any substantial gainful employment.


(f) Stock Purchase. The Stock subject to the purchase right of each Participant (other than Participants whose purchase rights have previously terminated in accordance with Sections VII(d) or (e) above) shall be automatically purchased on the Participant’s behalf on the last U.S. business day of the purchase period for which such purchase right remains outstanding. The purchase shall be effected by applying the amount credited to each Participant’s book account, as converted into U.S. Dollars if necessary, on the last U.S. business date of the purchase period to the purchase of whole shares of Stock (subject to the limitations on the maximum number of purchasable shares set forth in Section VII(b)) at the purchase price in effect for such purchase period.

(g) Proration of Purchase Rights. Should the total number of shares of Stock to be purchased pursuant to outstanding purchase rights on any particular date exceed the number of shares then available for issuance under the Plan and the Sub-Plan, the Plan Administrator shall make a pro-rata allocation of the available shares on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis, and any amounts credited to the accounts of Participants shall, to the extent not applied to the purchase of Stock, be refunded to the Participants, in the currency originally collected.

(h) Shareholder Rights. A Participant shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect to shares covered by the purchase rights granted to the Participant under the Plan until the shares are actually purchased on the Participant’s behalf in accordance with Section VII(f). No adjustments shall be made for dividends, distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the purchase date.

(i) ESPP Broker Account. The shares purchased on behalf of each Participant shall be deposited directly into a brokerage account which the Company shall establish for the Participant at a Company-designated brokerage firm. The account will be known as the ESPP Broker Account. The Plan Administrator may adopt such policies and procedures for the Plan as it determines is appropriate, including policies and procedures regarding the transfer of shares from a Participant’s ESPP Broker Account before those shares have been held for the requisite period necessary to avoid a disqualifying disposition of such shares under the U.S. Federal tax laws; provided that a Participant who terminates employment may within 30 days thereafter direct that all shares credited to his or her ESPP Broker Account be transferred to a broker or other person designated in writing by the Participant.

(j) Assignability. No purchase rights granted under the Plan shall be assignable or transferable by a Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and during the Participant’s lifetime the purchase rights shall be exercisable only by the Participant.

(k) Merger or Liquidation of Company. In the event the Company or its shareholders enter into an agreement to dispose of all or substantially all of the assets or outstanding capital stock of the Company by means of a sale, merger or reorganization in which the Company will not be the surviving corporation (other than a reorganization effected primarily to change the State in which the Company is incorporated, a merger or consolidation with a wholly-owned Subsidiary, or any other transaction in which there is no substantial change in the shareholders of the Company or their relative stock holdings, regardless of whether the Company is the surviving corporation) or in the event the Company is liquidated, then all outstanding purchase rights under the Plan shall automatically be exercised immediately prior to the consummation of such sale, merger, reorganization or liquidation by applying all sums previously collected from Participants during the purchase period of such transaction to the purchase of whole shares of Stock, subject, however, to the applicable limitations of Section VII(b).


(l) Acquisitions and Dispositions. The Plan Administrator may, in its sole and absolute discretion and in accordance with principles under Code Section 423, create special purchase periods for individuals who become Employees solely in connection with the acquisition of another company or business by merger, reorganization or purchase of assets and may provide for special purchase dates for Participants who will cease to be Employees solely in connection with the disposition of all or a portion of any Participating Company or a portion of the Company, which purchase periods and purchase rights granted pursuant thereto shall, notwithstanding anything stated herein, be subject to such terms and conditions as the Plan Administrator considers appropriate in the circumstances.

(m) Notice by Participants of Disqualifying Dispositions. As a condition for Plan participation, each Participant agrees that the Company shall be notified, through the ESPP Broker Account (or by the Participant in writing if the Participant’s Stock is not held therein), immediately after any sale or transfer of Stock that is both purchased through the Plan and is sold or disposed of within the two year period beginning with the purchase period in which the Stock was purchased.

 

  VIII. ACCRUAL LIMITATIONS

(a) No Participant shall be entitled to accrue rights to acquire Stock pursuant to any purchase right outstanding under this Plan if and to the extent such accrual, when aggregated with (I) Stock rights accrued under other purchase rights outstanding under this Plan and (II) similar rights accrued under other employee stock purchase plans (within the meaning of Code Section 423) of the Company or any Corporate Affiliate, would otherwise permit such Participant to purchase more than Twenty-Five Thousand U.S. Dollars (US$25,000) worth of stock of the Company or any Corporate Affiliate (determined on the basis of the fair market value of such stock on the date or dates such rights are granted to the Participant) for each calendar year such rights are at any time outstanding.

(b) For purposes of applying the accrual limitations of Section VIII(a), the right to acquire Stock pursuant to each purchase right outstanding under the Plan shall accrue as follows:

(i) The right to acquire Stock under each such purchase right shall accrue as and when the purchase right first becomes exercisable on the last U.S. business day of each purchase period the right remains outstanding.

(ii) No right to acquire Stock under any outstanding purchase right shall accrue to the extent the Participant has already accrued in the same calendar year the right to acquire Twenty-Five Thousand U.S. Dollars (US$25,000) worth of Stock (determined on the basis of the fair market value on the date or dates of grant) pursuant to one or more purchase rights held by the Participant during such calendar year.

(iii) If by reason of the Section VIII(a) limitations, one or more purchase rights of a Participant do not accrue for a particular purchase period, then the payroll deductions which the Participant made during that purchase period with respect to such purchase rights shall be promptly refunded in the currency originally collected.


(c) In the event there is any conflict between the provisions of this Article VIII and one or more provisions of the Plan or any instrument issued thereunder, the provisions of this Article VIII shall be controlling.

 

  IX. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

(a) The Board or the Compensation Committee of the Board may from time to time alter, amend, suspend or discontinue the Plan; provided, however, that no such action shall adversely affect purchase rights at the time outstanding under the Plan unless necessary or desirable to comply with any applicable law, regulation or rule; and provided, further, that no such action of the Board or the Compensation Committee of the Board may, without the approval of the shareholders of the Company, increase the number of shares issuable under the Plan (other than adjustments pursuant to Sections VI(b) and VII(b)), alter the purchase price formula so as to reduce the purchase price specified in the Plan, or materially modify the requirements for eligibility to participate in the Plan.

(b) Without shareholder approval and without regard to whether any Participant rights may be considered to have been “adversely affected,” the Plan Administrator shall be entitled to, in addition to, and without limitation with respect to, what is permitted pursuant to Section IX(a), cancel or change the purchase periods, limit the frequency and/or number of changes in the amount withheld during a purchase 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 enrollment forms, establish reasonable waiting and adjustment periods and/or accounting and crediting procedures to ensure that amounts applied toward the purchase of Stock for each Participant properly correspond with amounts withheld from the Participant’s Eligible Earnings, and establish such other limitations or procedures as the Plan Administrator determines in its sole discretion advisable which are consistent with the Plan.

 

  X. GENERAL PROVISIONS

(a) The Plan shall terminate upon the earlier of (i) ten years after its Effective Date, or (ii) the date on which all shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan and the Sub-Plan shall have been sold pursuant to purchase rights exercised under the Plan and the Sub-Plan.

(b) All costs and expenses incurred in the administration of the Plan shall be paid by the Company.

(c) The laws of the State of Delaware shall have control over all matters and disputes arising under the Plan.


GEVO, INC.

EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

 

 

Appendix A:

Subscription Agreement

 

 


GEVO, INC.

EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

Purpose of this Form:

         Original Enrollment

         Change in Payroll Deduction Rate

         Change of Beneficiary(ies)

Date of this Form:              ,         

1. I,                                          , hereby elect to participate in the Gevo, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ ESPP ”), and subscribes to purchase Common Shares of the Company in accordance with this Subscription Agreement and the ESPP.

2. I hereby acknowledge receiving a copy of the ESPP and the prospectus dated              , 2011 describing its terms, and understand that my participation in the ESPP is entirely voluntary, and is in all respects subject to the terms and conditions of the ESPP.

3. I hereby authorize payroll deductions from each paycheck in the amount of      % (not to exceed 25% ) of my “Eligible Earnings” (as defined in the ESPP) on each payday during each purchase period beginning after the date I have designated above. (Please note that no fractional percentages are permitted.)

4. I understand that my payroll deductions shall be accumulated for the purchase of common shares of Gevo, Inc. at the applicable purchase price determined in accordance with the ESPP. I understand that if I do not withdraw from a purchase period, any accumulated payroll deductions will be used to automatically exercise my option to purchase such shares.

5. Shares purchased for me under the ESPP will be held by the ESPP’s broker in my name, until and unless I request issuance of the shares in accordance with the broker’s standard procedures.

6. I understand that if I dispose of any shares received by me pursuant to the ESPP within 2 years after the first day of the purchase period in which I buy them, than 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 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 Shares 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) 5 % of the fair market value of the shares on the last day of the Purchase Period. The remainder of the gain, if any, recognized on such disposition will be taxed as capital gain. I UNDERSTAND THAT NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT CONSTITUTES TAX ADVICE, AND I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE COMPANY HAS ENCOURAGED ME TO CONSULT MY OWN TAX ADVISOR WITH REGARD TO THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF PARTICIPATING IN THE 2010 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN.

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

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 2010 Employee Stock Purchase Plan:

 

BENEFICIARY’S NAME:  

 

  (First)    (Middle)    (Last)        
                                       

 

Relationship to Me  
 

 

  (Address)        

I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT SHALL REMAIN IN EFFECT THROUGHOUT SUCCESSIVE PURCHASE PERIODS UNLESS TERMINATED BY ME AND CONFIRM THAT THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS TRUE AND CORRECT.

 

My Social Security Number:  

 

My Permanent Address:  

 

 

 

 

 

Dated:                               

 

  Signature of Employee
Dated:                               

 

  Spouse’s Signature
  (If beneficiary other than spouse)

Exhibit 5.1

LOGO

 

LOGO  

 

March 11, 2011

74494.00004

 

 

Gevo, Inc.

  345 Inverness Drive South, Building C, Suite 310
  Englewood, CO 80112
 

 

Re:   Registration Statement on Form S-8

 

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

 

We have acted as counsel to Gevo, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), in connection with the registration statement on Form S-8 to be filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) on or about the date hereof (the “ Registration Statement ”) to register under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), 6,751,194 shares (the “ Shares ”) of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share (“ Common Stock ”), comprised of (i) 2,894,265 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the vesting and exercise of options granted by the Company pursuant to the Company’s 2006 Omnibus Securities and Incentive Plan (the “ 2006 Plan ”), (ii) 2,571,286 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the vesting and exercise of options to be granted by the Company pursuant to the Company’s 2010 Stock Incentive Plan (the “ 2010 Plan ” and, together with the 2006 Plan, the “ Option Plans ”) and (iii) 1,285,643 shares of Common Stock issuable under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ ESPP ”).

 

 

As such counsel and for purposes of our opinion set forth below, we have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, resolutions, certificates and instruments of the Company, certificates of public officials and such other instruments and documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinion set forth herein, including, without limitation:

    (i)    the Registration Statement;
    (ii)    the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on February 11, 2011;
    (iii)    the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 4, 2010;
    (iv)    the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 5, 2005;


 

Gevo, Inc.

March 11, 2011

Page 2

 

    (v)    the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company as presently in effect, as certified by an officer of the Company as of February 14, 2011;
    (vi)    the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company as in effect as of July 15, 2005;
    (vii)    resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) on June 3, 2010;
    (viii)    resolutions adopted by the Board on January 14, 2011;
    (ix)    resolutions of the IPO/Offering Committee of the Board adopted on February 8, 2011;
    (x)    action by written consent of the stockholders of the Company, dated as of February 4, 2011;
    (xi)    resolutions adopted by the Board and the stockholders of the Company on January 25, 2006;
    (xii)    the Option Plans, including the forms of agreement related thereto;
    (xiii)    the ESPP; and
    (xiv)    a certificate, dated as of March 10, 2011, from the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, as to the existence and good standing of the Company in the State of Delaware.
  In addition to the foregoing, we have made such investigations of law as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinion set forth herein.
  In such examination and in rendering the opinion expressed below, we have assumed, without independent investigation or verification: (i) the genuineness of all signatures on


 

Gevo, Inc.

March 11, 2011

Page 3

 

  all agreements, instruments, corporate records, certificates and other documents submitted to us; (ii) the authenticity and completeness of all agreements, instruments, corporate records, certificates and other documents submitted to us as originals; (iii) that all agreements, instruments, corporate records, certificates and other documents submitted to us as certified, electronic, facsimile, conformed, photostatic or other copies conform to the originals thereof, and that such originals are authentic and complete; (iv) the legal capacity and authority of all persons or entities executing all agreements, instruments, corporate records, certificates and other documents submitted to us; (v) the due authorization, execution and delivery of all agreements, instruments, certificates and other documents by all parties thereto; (vi) that the statements contained in the certificates and comparable documents of public officials, officers and representatives of the Company and other persons on which we have relied for the purposes of this opinion are true and correct; and (vii) that the officers and directors of the Company have properly exercised their fiduciary duties. As to all questions of fact material to the opinion set forth herein and as to the materiality of any fact or other matter referred to herein, we have relied (without independent investigation) upon certificates or comparable documents of officers and representatives of the Company. We have also assumed that the Shares will be sold for a price per share not less than the par value per share of the Common Stock, and that the individual issuances, grants or awards under the Option Plans and the ESPP will be duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company and duly issued, granted or awarded and exercised in accordance with the requirements of law and the Option Plans or the ESPP, as applicable (and the agreements and awards duly adopted thereunder and in accordance therewith).
  Based upon the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, and subject to the limitations, qualifications and exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the Shares are duly authorized and, when issued and sold as described in the Registration Statement and in accordance with the Option Plans or the ESPP, as applicable, and the applicable award agreements thereunder (including the receipt by the Company of the full consideration therefor), will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
  Without limiting any of the other limitations, exceptions and qualifications stated elsewhere herein, we express no opinion with regard to the applicability or effect of the law of any jurisdiction other than, as in effect on the date of this opinion letter, the Delaware General Corporation Law, the applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution and reported judicial decisions interpreting these laws.
  This opinion letter deals only with the specified legal issues expressly addressed herein, and you should not infer any opinion that is not explicitly addressed herein from any matter stated in this opinion letter.
  This opinion letter is rendered solely to you in connection with the issuance and delivery of the Shares. This opinion letter is rendered to you as of the date hereof, and we assume


 

Gevo, Inc.

March 11, 2011

Page 4

 

  no obligation to advise you or any other person with regard to any change after the date hereof in the circumstances or the law that may bear on the matters set forth herein even if the change may affect the legal analysis, legal conclusion or other matters in this opinion letter.
  We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
  Very truly yours,
  /s/ Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated August 12, 2010, except for Note 19, as to which the date is November 4, 2010, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Gevo, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) (which report expresses an unqualified opinion on the consolidated financial statements and includes explanatory paragraphs referring to the Company’s status as a development stage enterprise and the change in the method of accounting for preferred stock warrants), appearing in the Prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Company pursuant to Rule 424(b)(4) under the Securities Act of 1933 on February 10, 2011, relating to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 333-168792 on Form S-1.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche, LLP

Denver, Colorado

March 11, 2011

Exhibit 23.2

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated August 12, 2010 related to the combined financial statements of Agri-Energy as of and for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2009 (which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph relating to the preparation of the combined financial statements from the separate records maintained by CORN-er Stone Farmers’ Cooperative), appearing in the Prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Company pursuant to Rule 424(b)(4) under the Securities Act of 1933 on February 10, 2011, relating to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 333-168792 on Form S-1.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche, LLP

Denver, Colorado

March 11, 2011