As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 2, 2004 Registration No. 333- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 SBE, INC. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 94-1517641 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (State of Incorporation) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) 2305 CAMINO RAMON, SUITE 200 SAN RAMON, CALIFORNIA 94583 (Address of principal executive offices) 1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN 2001 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN (Full title of the plans) DAVID W. BRUNTON CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, VICE PRESIDENT, FINANCE AND SECRETARY SBE, INC. 2305 CAMINO RAMON, SUITE 200 SAN RAMON, CALIFORNIA 94583 (925) 355-2000 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service) Copies to: JODIE M. BOURDET COOLEY GODWARD LLP ONE MARITIME PLAZA, 20TH FLOOR SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111 (415) 693-2000 CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE ========================== ====================== ========================= ========================== ========================= Proposed Maximum Proposed Maximum Title of Securities to Amount to be Offering Price Per Aggregate Offering Price Amount of Registration be Registered Registered (1) Share (2) (2) Fee -------------------------- ---------------------- ------------------------- -------------------------- ------------------------- Shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, reserved for future grant under the 1996 Stock Option Plan. 1,000,000 $4.60 $4,600,000 $582.82 ========================== ====================== ========================= ========================== ========================= Shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, reserved for future grant under the 2001 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan. 200,000 $4.60 $920,000 $116.56 ========================== ====================== ========================= ========================== ========================= Total 1,200,000 $4.60 $5,520,000 $699.38 ========================== ====================== ========================= ========================== ========================= (1) This registration statement is intended to cover the offering of up to 1,000,000 shares of the Registrant's Common Stock pursuant to its 1996 Stock Option Plan, as amended (the "Option Plan"), and up to 200,000 shares of the Registrant's Common Stock pursuant to its 2001 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan, as amended (the "Directors' Plan") (the Option Plan and Directors' Plan being hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Plans"). This registration statement shall also cover any additional shares of Common Stock that become issuable under the Plans by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or any other similar transaction without receipt of consideration that results in an increase in the number of shares of the Registrant's outstanding Common Stock. (2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c). The price per share and aggregate offering price are based upon the high and low sales prices of Registrant's Common Stock on March 30, 2004 as reported on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market reporting system. INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF CONTENTS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENTS ON FORM S-8 NOS. 33-45998, 33-59167, 33-45998, 333-63377, 33-67821, 333-32896, 333-63228 and 333-87828 The contents of Registration Statements on Form S-8 Nos. 33-45998, 33-59167, 33-45998, 333-63377, 33-67821, 333-32896, 333-63228 and 333-87828 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 26, 1992, May 8, 1995, August 19, 1998, September 15, 1998, November 24, 1998, March 21, 2000, June 18, 2001 and May 8, 2002, respectively, are incorporated by reference herein. EXHIBITS Exhibit Number 5.1 Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP 23.1 Consent of BDO Seidman, LLP, Independent Auditors 23.2 Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement 24.1 Power of Attorney is contained on the signature pages SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 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 Ramon, State of California, on March 30, 2004. SBE, INC. By: /s/ William B. Heye, Jr. ------------------------------------------------ William B. Heye, Jr. Chief Executive Officer, President and Director POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints William B. Heye, Jr. and David W. Brunton, and each or any one of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated. Signature Title Date --------- ----- ---- /s/ William B. Heye, Jr. Chief Executive Officer, President and March 30, 2004 (William B. Heye, Jr.) Director (principal executive officer) /s/ David W. Brunton Chief Financial Officer, Vice March 30, 2004 (David W. Brunton) President, Finance and Secretary (principal financial and accounting officer) /s/ John Reardon Director March 30, 2004 (John Reardon) /s/ Ronald J. Ritchie Director March 30, 2004 (Ronald J. Ritchie) /s/ M.M. (Mel) Stuckey Director March 30, 2004 (M.M. (Mel) Stuckey) EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit Number Description ------ ----------- 5.1 Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP 23.1 Consent of BDO Seidman, LLP, Independent Auditors 23.2 Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement 24.1 Power of Attorney is contained on the signature pages