As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 30, 2008
Registration No. 333-155710
 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
Amendment No. 1

to
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Bob Evans Farms, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Delaware   31-4421866
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
3776 South High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43207
(614) 491-2225

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Steven A. Davis
Chief Executive Officer
Bob Evans Farms, Inc.
3776 South High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43207
(614) 491-2225

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
 
With a copy to:
Mary L. Garceau, Esq.
Vice President and General Counsel
Bob Evans Farms, Inc.
3776 South High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43207
(614) 491-2225

 
      Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as possible after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  o
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  þ
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o

 


If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  o
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes or securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  o
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. (Check one):
             
Large accelerated filer þ     Accelerated filer o     Non-accelerated filer o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
  Smaller reporting company o  
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
Index to Exhibits set forth on page II-11 of this Registration Statement.
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
          This Registration Statement relates to 1,894,290 shares of common stock, $.01 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), of Bob Evans Farms, Inc. (the “Company”), to be issued pursuant to the Company’s Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan (the “Plan”). The shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the Plan under this Registration Statement have previously been registered under a Form S-3 Registration Statement (Registration No. 333-74739) filed by the Company on March 19, 1999. Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(5) under the Securities Act, this Registration Statement is being filed to replace Registration Statement No. 333-74739, which will expire on December 1, 2008, and to reflect certain changes made to the Plan. Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6) under the Securities Act, the offering of the shares of Common Stock previously registered under Registration Statement No. 333-74739 will be deemed terminated as of the date of effectiveness of this Registration Statement.
 
 

 


EXPLANATORY NOTE
          This Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-155710) (the “Registration Statement”) amends Part II of the Registration Statement to file a revised legal opinion of counsel to the Company as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. No other changes or additions are being made hereby to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that forms a part of the Registration Statement.
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
          The following table sets forth the fees and expenses payable by the Company in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered hereby (excluding any underwriting discounts and commissions). All of the amounts shown are estimates, except for the Commission registration fee.
         
Commission registration fee
  $ 980.08  
Printing costs
  $ 10,000  
Legal fees and expenses
  $ 10,000  
Accounting fees and expenses
  $ 7,000  
Miscellaneous
  $ 2,000  
Total
  $ 29,980.08  
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
          Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law permits the Company to include a provision in its Certificate of Incorporation eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director to the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided that such provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
          Article ELEVENTH of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, limits the liability of directors to the extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law. Article ELEVENTH provides:
No director or former director of this Company shall be personally liable to this Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided that this provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director: (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders; (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law; (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which deals with the paying of a dividend or the approving of a stock repurchase or redemption which is illegal under Delaware General Corporation Law; or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derives an improper personal benefit.
          Article IX of the Company’s Amended and Restated By-Laws, as amended, governs indemnification by the Company of its directors and officers and provides as follows:
SECTION 9.01. INDEMNIFICATION AS OF RIGHT FOR DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. Each director or officer of the corporation who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (hereinafter an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the corporation to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware Law against all expense,

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liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, taxes, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 9.02 hereof with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the board. The right to indemnification conferred in this Section 9.01 shall include the right to be paid by the corporation the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”); provided, however, that, if Delaware Law so requires, expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be advanced only upon delivery to the corporation of an undertaking (hereinafter an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a “final adjudication”) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section 9.01 or otherwise.
SECTION 9.02. ENFORCEMENT. If a claim under Section 9.01 is not paid in full by the corporation within sixty days after a written claim has been received by the corporation, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be twenty days, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the indemnitee shall also be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. It shall be a defense of the corporation in any suit brought by an indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Delaware Law, and a final adjudication that an indemnitee has not met such standard shall entitle the corporation to recover such expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking. Neither the failure of the corporation (including the Board, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Delaware Law, nor an actual determination by the corporation (including the Board, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or by the corporation to recover an advancement of expenses, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified in any respect, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article IX or otherwise shall be on the corporation.
SECTION 9.03. DISCRETIONARY INDEMNIFICATION FOR AGENTS AND EMPLOYEES. The corporation may, to the extent approved or ratified from time to time by the board, grant rights to indemnification, and to the advancement of expenses to any employee or agent of the corporation to the fullest extent contemplated by this Article IX with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers of the corporation.
SECTION 9.04. ARTICLE IX EXCLUSIVE. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other sections of this Article IX shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under the corporation’s or any other corporation’s certificate of incorporation or by-laws, other charter documents, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, or under Delaware Law or any other applicable statute or regulation, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.

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SECTION 9.05. CONTINUATION OF INDEMNIFICATION. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article IX shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person, except in any such case to the extent that any grant of rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses pursuant to Section 9.03 otherwise provides, and shall be binding upon any successor to the corporation to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware Law, as from time to time in effect.
SECTION 9.06. INSURANCE. The corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Article IX or Delaware Law.
SECTION 9.07. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Article, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; and references to a director or officer of the corporation “serving at the request of the corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director or officer with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries. For purposes of determining whether a person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Delaware Law, a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the corporation.”
SECTION 9.08. SEVERABILITY. In the event that any provision of this Article IX is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to require the corporation to do or to fail to do an act which is in violation of applicable law, such provision shall be limited or modified in its application to the minimum extent necessary to avoid a violation of law, and, as so limited or modified, such provision and the balance of this Article IX shall be enforceable by an indemnitee in accordance with its terms.
          Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law governs indemnification by a corporation of its directors, officers, employees and agents and provides as follows:
(a) A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that the person’s conduct was unlawful.

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(b) A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
(c) To the extent that a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.
(d) Any indemnification under subsections (a) and (b) of this section (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because the person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this section. Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination, (1) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (2) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even through less than a quorum, or (3) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (4) by the stockholders.
(e) Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an officer or director in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in this section. Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by former directors and officers or other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the corporation deems appropriate.
(f) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other subsections of this section shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.
(g) A corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such,

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whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under this section.
(h) For purposes of this section, references to “the corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this section with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
(i) For purposes of this section, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the corporation” as referred to in this section.
(j) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this section shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
(k) The Court of Chancery is hereby vested with exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine all actions for advancement of expenses or indemnification brought under this section or under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise. The Court of Chancery may summarily determine a corporation’s obligation to advance expenses (including attorneys’ fees).
          The Company has purchased insurance coverage under a policy which insures directors and officers against certain liabilities which might be incurred by them in such capacity. The Company may also incur indemnification obligations under employment agreements it may in the future enter into with its officers.
Item 16. Exhibits.
See the Index to Exhibits on page II-11, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 17. Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
     (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
     (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
     (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered

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(if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
     (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.
          Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form F-3 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
          (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, 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.
          (4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
     (i) If the registrant is relying on Rule 430B:
     (A) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
     (B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; or

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     (ii) If the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.
     (5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities: The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
          (i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
          (ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
          (iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
          (iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
     (b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
     (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
     (d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
     (1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b) (1) or (4) or 497(h)

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under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
     (2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus 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.

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SIGNATURES
          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Columbus, State of Ohio, on the 30th day of December, 2008.
         
  BOB EVANS FARMS, INC .
 
 
  By:   /s/ Donald J. Radkoski    
    Donald J. Radkoski   
    Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer
and Assistant Secretary 
 
 
          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
         
Signature   Title   Date
 
/s/ Steven A. Davis
 
Steven A. Davis
  Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
  December 30, 2008
 
       
/s/ Donald J. Radkoski
 
Donald J. Radkoski
  Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
  December 30, 2008
 
       
*
 
Larry C. Corbin
  Director    December 30, 2008
 
       
*
 
Michael J. Gasser
  Director    December 30, 2008
 
       
*
 
E.W. Bill Ingram III
  Director    December 30, 2008
 
       
*
 
Cheryl L. Krueger
  Director    December 30, 2008

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Signature   Title   Date
 
*
 
G. Robert Lucas II
  Director    December 30, 2008
 
       
*
 
Eileen A. Mallesch
  Director    December 30, 2008
 
       
*
 
Bryan G. Stockton
  Director    December 30, 2008
 
       
*
 
Paul S. Williams
  Director    December 30, 2008
             
*  By:   
/s/ Donald J. Radkoski
 
Donald J. Radkoski
Attorney-in-Fact
       

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
         
Exhibit No.   Description   Page No.
 
4.1
  Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on November 4, 1985)   Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended April 24, 1987 (File No. 000-01667)
 
       
4.2
  Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation of the Company dated August 26, 1987 (filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on September 4, 1987)   Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(b) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended April 28, 1989 (File No. 000-01667)
 
       
4.3
  Certificate of Adoption of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of the Company dated August 9, 1993 (filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on August 10, 1993)   Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(c) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended April 29, 1994 (File No. 000-01667)
 
       
4.4
  Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company reflecting amendments through August 10, 1993 (filed for purposes of Securities and Exchange Commission reporting compliance only; this document has not been filed with the Delaware Secretary of State)   Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(d) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended April 29, 1994 (File No. 000-01667)
 
       
4.5
  Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company (As Amended November 19, 2008)   Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 24, 2008 (File No. 000-01667)
 
       
5.1
  Opinion of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP as to legality   Filed herewith
 
       
23.1
  Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm   Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 23.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-155710) filed on November 26, 2008
 
       
23.2
  Consent of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP   Included as part of Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement
 
       
24
  Powers of Attorney   Included as a part of the signature page to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-155710) filed on November 26, 2008

II-11

Exhibit 5.1
(614) 464-6400
[Letterhead of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP]
December 30, 2008
Board of Directors
Bob Evans Farms, Inc.
3776 South High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43207
Ladies and Gentlemen:
          We have acted as counsel to Bob Evans Farms, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on November 26, 2008, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to be filed on or about the date of this letter (the “Registration Statement”), relating to the proposed issuance of up to 1,894,290 shares of common stock, $.01 par value, of the Company (the “Shares”) pursuant to the Company’s Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan (as amended, the “Plan”).
          In connection with rendering this opinion, we have examined, to the extent deemed necessary, originals or copies, the authenticity of which has been established to our satisfaction, of: (i) the Registration Statement; (ii) the Plan; (iii) the restated certificate of incorporation of the Company, as currently in effect; (iv) the amended and restated bylaws of the Company, as currently in effect; and (v) resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company relating to the issuance of the Shares and approving the Plan and the transactions contemplated thereby. In addition, we have examined such other documents and matters as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion. We have also been furnished with and relied upon such oral or written statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company with respect to certain factual matters, and examined and relied upon such certificates of public officials and authorities of law, as we have deemed relevant as a basis for this opinion.
          In our examination of the aforesaid records, documents and certificates and in rendering the opinion set forth below, we have assumed, without independent investigation or examination, (i) the genuineness of all signatures, (ii) the legal capacity of all individuals who have executed and delivered any of the aforesaid documents, (iii) the authority of all individuals entering and maintaining records, (iv) the authenticity and completeness of all records, documents and certificates submitted to us as originals, (v) the conformity to authentic original, of all items submitted to us as copies (whether certified, conformed, photostatic or by other electronic means) of records, documents or certificates and (vi) that the final, executed copy of each document submitted to us in draft form will not differ in any material respect from the draft form of such document submitted to us. Further, we have assumed the accuracy of all information provided to us by the officers and other representatives of the Company, orally or in writing.

 


 

          We have relied solely upon the examinations and inquiries recited herein, and, except for the examinations and inquiries recited herein, we have not undertaken any independent investigation to determine the existence or absence of any facts, and no inference as to our knowledge concerning such facts should be drawn.
          Based upon and subject to the foregoing and the further qualifications and limitations set forth below, as of the date hereof, we are of the opinion that the Shares to be registered under the Act pursuant to the Registration Statement for issuance and delivery under the Plan have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company and, when the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act and the Shares proposed to be issued pursuant to the Registration Statement have been issued and delivered upon payment therefor as contemplated under the terms of the Plan, such Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
          This opinion is based upon the laws and legal interpretations in effect, and the facts and circumstances existing, on the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion should any such law or legal interpretation be changed by legislative action, judicial interpretation or otherwise or should there be any change in such facts or circumstances.
           We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement and to the use of our name wherever appearing in the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto. By giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP
VORYS, SATER, SEYMOUR AND PEASE LLP