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<TITLE>Geron Corporation, Form S-8</TITLE>
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<P align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>As filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on July 3, 2002</B></FONT>

<DIV align="right"><FONT size="2"><B>Registration No.&nbsp;333-______</B></FONT></DIV>

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<P align="center"><FONT size="4"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B></FONT>

<DIV align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549</B></FONT></DIV>

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<P align="center"><FONT size="3"><B>FORM S-8</B></FONT>
<DIV align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>REGISTRATION STATEMENT<BR>
UNDER<BR>
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</B></FONT></DIV>

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<P align="center"><FONT size="4"><B>GERON CORPORATION</B></FONT>
<DIV align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)</B></FONT></DIV>

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        <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2"><B>Delaware<BR>
(State or Other Jurisdiction of<BR>
Incorporation or Organization)</B></FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
<B>75-2287752<BR>
(I.R.S. Employer<BR>
Identification Number)</B></FONT></TD>
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<P align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>230 Constitution Drive<BR>
Menlo Park, California 94025<BR>
(Addresses of Principal Executive Offices including Zip Codes)</B></FONT>

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<P align="center"><FONT size="4"><B>2002 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN</B></FONT>
<DIV align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>(Full Title of the Plan)</B></FONT></DIV>

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        <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2"><B>Thomas B. Okarma</B></FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
<B>Copy to:</B></FONT></TD>
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        <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2"><B>President and Chief Executive Officer<BR>
Geron Corporation<BR>
230 Constitution Drive<BR>
Menlo Park, California 94025<BR>
(650)&nbsp;473-7700</B></FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
<B>Alan C. Mendelson, Esq.<BR>
Latham &#038; Watkins<BR>
135 Commonwealth Drive<BR>
Menlo Park, California 94025<BR>
(650)&nbsp;328-4600</B></FONT></TD>
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<P align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>(Name and Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number,<BR>
Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)</B></FONT>

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        <TD colspan="17" align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</B></FONT></TD>
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        <TD><FONT size="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><FONT size="1"><B>Proposed</B></FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><FONT size="1"><B>Proposed</B></FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
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        <TD><FONT size="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><FONT size="1"><B>Amount</B></FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><FONT size="1"><B>Maximum</B></FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><FONT size="1"><B>Maximum</B></FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
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        <TD><FONT size="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><FONT size="1"><B>to be</B></FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><FONT size="1"><B>Offering Price</B></FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><FONT size="1"><B>Aggregate</B></FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><FONT size="1"><B>Amount of</B></FONT></TD>
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        <TD nowrap align="center"><FONT size="1"><B>Title of Securities to be Registered</B></FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><FONT size="1"><B>Registered(1)(2)</B></FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><FONT size="1"><B>Per Share(3)</B></FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><FONT size="1"><B>Offering Price(3)</B></FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><FONT size="1"><B>Registration Fee</B></FONT></TD>
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        <TD><DIV style="margin-left:10px; text-indent:-10px"><FONT size="2">Common Stock, $.001 par value (4)</FONT></DIV></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="right"><FONT size="2">7,000,000</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="right"><FONT size="2">$</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="right"><FONT size="2">4.30</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="right"><FONT size="2">$</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="right" nowrap><FONT size="2">30,100,000</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="right"><FONT size="2">$</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="right"><FONT size="2">2,770</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
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      <TD width="1%" align="left" nowrap><FONT size="2">(1)</FONT></TD>
        <TD width="3%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD width="96%"><FONT size="2">The 2002 Equity Incentive Plan (the &#147;Plan&#148;) authorizes the issuance of
(i)&nbsp;initially 5,000,000 shares of Geron Corporation common stock, par
value $0.001 per share, and (ii)&nbsp;up to 2,000,000 shares of common stock
each year during its term. This registration statement only covers the
initial 5,000,000 shares and the 2,000,000 shares that may become issuable
on the first anniversary of the adoption of the Plan by the board of
directors of Geron Corporation.</FONT></TD>
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<TR><TD><TR><TD><TR><TD><TR><TD>
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      <TD width="1%" align="left" nowrap><FONT size="2">(2)</FONT></TD>
        <TD width="3%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD width="96%"><FONT size="2">This registration statement shall also cover any additional shares of
common stock which become issuable under the Plan by reason of any stock
dividend, stock split, recapitalization or any other similar transaction
effected without the receipt of consideration which results in an increase
in the number of the outstanding shares of Geron Corporation common stock.</FONT></TD>
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<TR><TD><TR><TD><TR><TD><TR><TD>
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      <TD width="1%" align="left" nowrap><FONT size="2">(3)</FONT></TD>
        <TD width="3%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD width="96%"><FONT size="2">Estimated solely for the purposes of calculating the registration fee
pursuant to Rule&nbsp;457(h) and (c)&nbsp;under the Securities Act of 1933, and is
based on the average of the high and low sales price of the common stock,
as reported on the Nasdaq National Market on July 2, 2002.</FONT></TD>
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<TR><TD><TR><TD><TR><TD><TR><TD>
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      <TD width="1%" align="left" nowrap><FONT size="2">(4)</FONT></TD>
        <TD width="3%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD width="96%"><FONT size="2">Each share of common stock being registered hereunder, if issued prior to
the termination by Geron Corporation of its Rights Agreement dated as of
July&nbsp;20, 2001, will include one preferred share purchase right. Prior to
the occurrence of certain events, the preferred share purchase rights will
not be exercisable or evidenced separately from the common stock.</FONT></TD>
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<P align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>Proposed sale to take place as soon after the effective date of the<BR>
registration statement as options granted under the Plan are exercised.</B></FONT>

<P align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>Total Pages 8<BR>
Exhibit&nbsp;Index on Page 6</B></FONT>

<P align="center"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;
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<A name="toc"><DIV align="CENTER" style="page-break-before:always"><U><B>TABLE OF CONTENTS</B></U></DIV></A>

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<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#000">PART I</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#001">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#002">PART II</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#003">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#004">Item&nbsp;3. Information of Documents by Reference</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#005">Item&nbsp;4. Description of Securities</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#006">Item&nbsp;5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#007">Item&nbsp;6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#008">Item&nbsp;7. Exemption from Registration Claimed</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#009">Item&nbsp;8. Exhibits</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#010">Item&nbsp;9. Undertakings</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#011">SIGNATURES</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#012">EXHIBIT INDEX</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="f82763orexv5w1.txt">EXHIBIT 5.1</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="f82763orexv23w2.txt">EXHIBIT 23.2</A></TD></TR>
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<!-- link1 "PART I" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="000"></A></DIV>
<P align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>PART I</B></FONT>

<!-- link1 "INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="001"></A></DIV>
<P align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS</B></FONT>

<P><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The information called for in Part I of the Form&nbsp;S-8 is not being filed
with or included in this Form&nbsp;S-8 (by incorporation by reference or otherwise)
in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or the Commission.
</FONT>
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<DIV align="left"><A NAME="002"></A></DIV>
<P align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>PART II</B></FONT>

<!-- link1 "INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="003"></A></DIV>
<P align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</B></FONT>

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<DIV align="left"><A NAME="004"></A></DIV>
<P align="left"><FONT size="2"><B>Item&nbsp;3. Information of Documents by Reference</B></FONT>

<P><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The following documents filed with the Commission by Geron Corporation are
incorporated as of their respective dates in this registration statement by
reference:
</FONT>
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<TR valign="top">
   <TD width="1%" nowrap><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
   <TD width="1%" align="left"><FONT size="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
   <TD width="1%" nowrap><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
   <TD width="97%"><FONT size="2">Geron&#146;s Annual Report on Form&nbsp;10-K for the year ended
December&nbsp;31, 2001, filed with the Commission on March&nbsp;1, 2002;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top">
   <TD width="1%" nowrap><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
   <TD width="1%" align="left"><FONT size="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
   <TD width="1%" nowrap><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
   <TD width="97%"><FONT size="2">Geron&#146;s Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K dated as of January&nbsp;9,
2002, filed with the Commission on January&nbsp;18, 2002;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top">
   <TD width="1%" nowrap><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
   <TD width="1%" align="left"><FONT size="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
   <TD width="1%" nowrap><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
   <TD width="97%"><FONT size="2">Geron&#146;s Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K dated as of March&nbsp;6, 2002,
filed with the Commission on March&nbsp;11, 2002;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top">
   <TD width="1%" nowrap><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
   <TD width="1%" align="left"><FONT size="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
   <TD width="1%" nowrap><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
   <TD width="97%"><FONT size="2">Geron&#146;s Quarterly Report on Form&nbsp;10-Q for the quarter ended
March&nbsp;31, 2002, filed with the Commission on May&nbsp;7, 2002;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top">
   <TD width="1%" nowrap><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
   <TD width="1%" align="left"><FONT size="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
   <TD width="1%" nowrap><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
   <TD width="97%"><FONT size="2">Geron&#146;s Current Report on
Form&nbsp;8-K dated as of June&nbsp;24, 2002,
filed with the Commission on June&nbsp;25, 2002; and</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top">
   <TD width="1%" nowrap><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
   <TD width="1%" align="left"><FONT size="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
   <TD width="1%" nowrap><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
   <TD width="97%"><FONT size="2">the description of Geron preferred share purchase rights,
contained in Geron&#146;s Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K dated as of July&nbsp;20,
2001, filed with the Commission on July&nbsp;23, 2001, and any amendment
or report filed with the Commission for purposes of updating the
description.</FONT></TD>
</TR>
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<P><FONT size="2">All documents filed by Geron pursuant to Sections&nbsp;13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 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
such documents. 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 such statement so modified or superseded shall
not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of
this registration statement.
</FONT>
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<DIV align="left"><A NAME="005"></A></DIV>
<P align="left"><FONT size="2"><B>Item&nbsp;4. Description of Securities</B></FONT>

<P><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable.
</FONT>
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<P align="left"><FONT size="2"><B>Item&nbsp;5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel</B></FONT>

<P><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable.
</FONT>
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<DIV align="left"><A NAME="007"></A></DIV>
<P align="left"><FONT size="2"><B>Item&nbsp;6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers</B></FONT>

<P><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Company is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware.
Reference is made to Section&nbsp;102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law,
or DGCL, which enables a corporation in its original certificate of
incorporation or an amendment thereto to eliminate or limit the personal
liability of a director for violations of the director&#146;s fiduciary duty, except (1)&nbsp;for any breach of the director&#146;s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its
</FONT>
<P align="center"><FONT size="2">2
</FONT>

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<P><FONT size="2">

stockholders, (2)&nbsp;for acts or omissions not
in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of
law, (3)&nbsp;pursuant to Section&nbsp;174 of the DGCL, which provides for liability of
directors for unlawful payments of dividends of unlawful stock purchase or
redemptions, or (4)&nbsp;for any transaction from which a director derived an
improper personal benefit.
</FONT>
<P><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Reference is also made to Section&nbsp;145 of the DGCL, which provides that a
corporation may indemnify any person, including an officer or director, who is,
or is threatened to be made, party to any threatened, pending or completed
legal action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative, other than an action by or in the right of such corporation, by
reason of the fact that such person was an officer, director, employee or agent
of such corporation or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as
a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise.
The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys&#146; fees), judgments,
fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such
person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided such
officer, director, employee or agent acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the corporation&#146;s best
interest and, for criminal proceedings, had no reasonable cause to believe that
his conduct was unlawful. A Delaware corporation may indemnify any officer or
director in an action by or in the right of the corporation under the same
conditions, except that no indemnification is permitted without judicial
approval if the officer or director is adjudged to be liable to the
corporation. Where an officer or director is successful on the merits or
otherwise in the defense of any action referred to above, the corporation must
indemnify him against the expenses that such officer or director actually and
reasonably incurred.
</FONT>
<P><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Our certificate of incorporation provides for indemnification of the
officers and directors to the full extent permitted by applicable law.
</FONT>
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<P align="left"><FONT size="2"><B>Item&nbsp;7. Exemption from Registration Claimed</B></FONT>

<P><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not Applicable.
</FONT>

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<DIV align="left"><A NAME="009"></A></DIV>
<P align="left"><FONT size="2"><B>Item&nbsp;8. Exhibits</B></FONT>

<P><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A list of exhibits filed with this registration statement is set forth in
the Exhibit&nbsp;Index on page 6 and is incorporated herein by reference.
</FONT>

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<P align="left"><FONT size="2"><B>Item&nbsp;9. Undertakings</B></FONT>

<P><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)&nbsp; The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
</FONT>
<P align="left"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1)&nbsp;To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
</FONT>

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<TR valign="bottom">
        <TD width="9%">&nbsp;</TD>
        <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
        <TD width="89%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
        <TD align="right" valign="top"><FONT size="2">(i)</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
To include any prospectus required by Section
10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
        <TD align="right" valign="top"><FONT size="2">(ii)</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
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
in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule
424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price
represent no more than 20&nbsp;percent change in the maximum
aggregate offering price set forth in the &#147;Calculation of
Registration Fee&#148; table in the effective registration
statement; and</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
        <TD align="right" valign="top"><FONT size="2">(iii)</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
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;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<P align="center"><FONT size="2">3
</FONT>

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<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<P><FONT size="2"><I>provided, however</I>, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished
to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or Section&nbsp;15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this
registration statement.
</FONT>

<P align="left"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2)&nbsp;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
<I>bona fide </I>offering thereof.
</FONT>

<P align="left"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(3)&nbsp;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.
</FONT>

<P><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)&nbsp; The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant&#146;s annual report pursuant to Section&nbsp;13(a) or Section&nbsp;15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan&#146;s annual report pursuant to Section&nbsp;15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) 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 <I>bona fide </I>offering thereof.
</FONT>
<P><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)&nbsp; 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 existing 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 of
1933 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 of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.
</FONT>
<P align="center"><FONT size="2">4
</FONT>

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<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>
<!-- link1 "SIGNATURES" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="011"></A></DIV>
<P align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>SIGNATURES</B></FONT>

<P><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;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&nbsp;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 Menlo Park, State of California, on
July&nbsp;3, 2002.
</FONT>
<CENTER>
<TABLE cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<TR valign="bottom">
        <TD width="45%">&nbsp;</TD>
        <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
        <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
        <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
        <TD width="46%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
        <TD valign="top"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD colspan="3" align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2"><B>GERON CORPORATION</B></FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
        <TD valign="top"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
By:
</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2">/s/ David L. Greenwood</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR>
        <TD valign="top"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left" valign="top"><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
        <TD valign="top"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2">David L. Greenwood<BR>
Senior Vice President and<BR>
Chief Financial Officer</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<P align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>POWER OF ATTORNEY</B></FONT>

<P><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENT, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Thomas B. Okarma and David L. Greenwood, and
each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each 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 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 order to effectuate the same as
fully, to all intents and purposes, as he might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or
any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
</FONT>
<P><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated as of July&nbsp;3, 2002.
</FONT>
<CENTER>
<TABLE cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<TR valign="bottom">
        <TD width="32%">&nbsp;</TD>
        <TD width="8%">&nbsp;</TD>
        <TD width="60%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
        <TD align="left" nowrap align="center"><FONT size="1">Signature</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left" nowrap align="center"><FONT size="1">Title</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
        <TD nowrap align="center"><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD nowrap align="center"><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
        <TD valign="top"><FONT size="2">/s/ Thomas B. Okarma
<HR size="1" noshade>
Thomas B. Okarma</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director<BR>
(Principal Executive Officer)</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
        <TD valign="top"><FONT size="2">/s/ David L. Greenwood
<HR size="1" noshade>
David L. Greenwood</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer<BR>
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
        <TD valign="top"><FONT size="2">/s/ Alexander E. Barkas
<HR size="1" noshade>
Alexander E. Barkas</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
Director</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
        <TD valign="top"><FONT size="2">/s/ Edward V. Fritzky
<HR size="1" noshade>
Edward V. Fritzky</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
Director</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR>
        <TD valign="top"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;
<HR size="1" noshade>
Thomas D. Kiley</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
Director</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
        <TD valign="top"><FONT size="2">/s/ Robert B. Stein
<HR size="1" noshade>
Robert B. Stein</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
Director</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
        <TD valign="top"><FONT size="2">/s/ John P. Walker
<HR size="1" noshade>
John P. Walker</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
Director</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
        <TD valign="top"><FONT size="2">/s/ Patrick J. Zenner
<HR size="1" noshade>
Patrick J. Zenner</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
Director</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<P align="center"><FONT size="2">5
</FONT>

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<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>
<!-- link1 "EXHIBIT INDEX" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="012"></A></DIV>
<P align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX</B></FONT>

<CENTER>
<TABLE cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="85%">
<TR valign="bottom">
        <TD width="9%">&nbsp;</TD>
        <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
        <TD width="78%">&nbsp;</TD>
        <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
        <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
        <TD nowrap align="center"><FONT size="1">EXHIBIT</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD nowrap align="center"><FONT size="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
        <TD nowrap align="center"><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD nowrap align="center">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
        <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;4.1&#043;</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
Form of Common Stock Certificate
</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
        <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;4.2*</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
Rights Agreement dated as of July&nbsp;20, 2001, between Geron
Corporation and the U.S. Stock Transfer Corporation, as Rights
Agent
</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
        <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;5.1</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
Opinion of Latham &#038; Watkins
</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
        <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">23.1</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
Consent of Latham &#038; Watkins (included in Exhibit&nbsp;5.1)
</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
        <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">23.2</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
Consent of Ernst &#038; Young LLP, Independent Auditors
</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
        <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">24.1</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
Powers of Attorney (included on signature page hereto)
</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<P>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<TR valign="top">
      <TD width="1%" align="left" nowrap><FONT size="2">(&#043;)</FONT></TD>
        <TD width="3%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD width="96%"><FONT size="2">Incorporated by reference to identically numbered exhibits filed with the
registrant&#146;s Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;S-1 which became effective on
July&nbsp;30, 1996.</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD><TR><TD><TR><TD><TR><TD>
<TR valign="top">
      <TD width="1%" align="left" nowrap><FONT size="2">(*)</FONT></TD>
        <TD width="2%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD width="97%"><FONT size="2">Incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;4.1 of the Registrant&#146;s Current Report
on Form&nbsp;8-K filed on July&nbsp;23, 2001.</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<P align="center"><FONT size="2">6</FONT>

</BODY>
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "GERON CORPORATION", "cik": "0000886744", "assigned-sic": "2834", "irs-number": "752287752", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-91916", "film-number": "02696298"}, "business-address": {"street1": "230 CONSTITUTION DRIVE", "city": "MENLO PARK", "state": "CA", "zip": "94025", "phone": "6504737700"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "200 CONSTITUTION DRIVE", "city": "MENLO PARK", "state": "CA", "zip": "94025"}}
Geron Corporation, Form S-8
Table of Contents
As filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on July 3, 2002
Registration No. 333-______
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
GERON CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
75-2287752
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
230 Constitution Drive
Menlo Park, California 94025
(Addresses of Principal Executive Offices including Zip Codes)
2002 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
(Full Title of the Plan)
Thomas B. Okarma
Copy to:
President and Chief Executive Officer
Geron Corporation
230 Constitution Drive
Menlo Park, California 94025
(650) 473-7700
Alan C. Mendelson, Esq.
Latham & Watkins
135 Commonwealth Drive
Menlo Park, California 94025
(650) 328-4600
(Name and Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number,
Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Proposed
Proposed
Amount
Maximum
Maximum
to be
Offering Price
Aggregate
Amount of
Title of Securities to be Registered
Registered(1)(2)
Per Share(3)
Offering Price(3)
Registration Fee
Common Stock, $.001 par value (4)
7,000,000
$
4.30
$
30,100,000
$
2,770
(1)
The 2002 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan") authorizes the issuance of
(i) initially 5,000,000 shares of Geron Corporation common stock, par
value $0.001 per share, and (ii) up to 2,000,000 shares of common stock
each year during its term. This registration statement only covers the
initial 5,000,000 shares and the 2,000,000 shares that may become issuable
on the first anniversary of the adoption of the Plan by the board of
directors of Geron Corporation.
(2)
This registration statement shall also cover any additional shares of
common stock which become issuable under the Plan by reason of any stock
dividend, stock split, recapitalization or any other similar transaction
effected without the receipt of consideration which results in an increase
in the number of the outstanding shares of Geron Corporation common stock.
(3)
Estimated solely for the purposes of calculating the registration fee
pursuant to Rule 457(h) and (c) under the Securities Act of 1933, and is
based on the average of the high and low sales price of the common stock,
as reported on the Nasdaq National Market on July 2, 2002.
(4)
Each share of common stock being registered hereunder, if issued prior to
the termination by Geron Corporation of its Rights Agreement dated as of
July 20, 2001, will include one preferred share purchase right. Prior to
the occurrence of certain events, the preferred share purchase rights will
not be exercisable or evidenced separately from the common stock.
Proposed sale to take place as soon after the effective date of the
registration statement as options granted under the Plan are exercised.
Total Pages 8
Exhibit Index on Page 6
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Information of Documents by Reference
Item 4. Description of Securities
Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed
Item 8. Exhibits
Item 9. Undertakings
SIGNATURES
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT 5.1
EXHIBIT 23.2
Table of Contents
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
The information called for in Part I of the Form S-8 is not being filed
with or included in this Form S-8 (by incorporation by reference or otherwise)
in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or the Commission.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Information of Documents by Reference
The following documents filed with the Commission by Geron Corporation are
incorporated as of their respective dates in this registration statement by
reference:
•
Geron's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2001, filed with the Commission on March 1, 2002;
•
Geron's Current Report on Form 8-K dated as of January 9,
2002, filed with the Commission on January 18, 2002;
•
Geron's Current Report on Form 8-K dated as of March 6, 2002,
filed with the Commission on March 11, 2002;
•
Geron's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 2002, filed with the Commission on May 7, 2002;
•
Geron's Current Report on
Form 8-K dated as of June 24, 2002,
filed with the Commission on June 25, 2002; and
•
the description of Geron preferred share purchase rights,
contained in Geron's Current Report on Form 8-K dated as of July 20,
2001, filed with the Commission on July 23, 2001, and any amendment
or report filed with the Commission for purposes of updating the
description.
All documents filed by Geron pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 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
such documents. 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 such statement so modified or superseded shall
not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of
this registration statement.
Item 4. Description of Securities
Not applicable.
Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel
Not applicable.
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
The Company is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware.
Reference is made to Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law,
or DGCL, which enables a corporation in its original certificate of
incorporation or an amendment thereto to eliminate or limit the personal
liability of a director for violations of the director's fiduciary duty, except (1) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its
2
Table of Contents
stockholders, (2) for acts or omissions not
in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of
law, (3) pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL, which provides for liability of
directors for unlawful payments of dividends of unlawful stock purchase or
redemptions, or (4) for any transaction from which a director derived an
improper personal benefit.
Reference is also made to Section 145 of the DGCL, which provides that a
corporation may indemnify any person, including an officer or director, who is,
or is threatened to be made, party to any threatened, pending or completed
legal action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative, other than an action by or in the right of such corporation, by
reason of the fact that such person was an officer, director, employee or agent
of such corporation or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as
a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise.
The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments,
fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such
person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided such
officer, director, employee or agent acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the corporation's best
interest and, for criminal proceedings, had no reasonable cause to believe that
his conduct was unlawful. A Delaware corporation may indemnify any officer or
director in an action by or in the right of the corporation under the same
conditions, except that no indemnification is permitted without judicial
approval if the officer or director is adjudged to be liable to the
corporation. Where an officer or director is successful on the merits or
otherwise in the defense of any action referred to above, the corporation must
indemnify him against the expenses that such officer or director actually and
reasonably incurred.
Our certificate of incorporation provides for indemnification of the
officers and directors to the full extent permitted by applicable law.
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed
Not Applicable.
Item 8. Exhibits
A list of exhibits filed with this registration statement is set forth in
the Exhibit Index on page 6 and is incorporated herein by reference.
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 of 1933;
(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
in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC 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; and
(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;
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provided, however
, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic 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 this
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.
(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 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.
(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 existing 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 of
1933 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 of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.
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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-8 and has duly caused this
registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Menlo Park, State of California, on
July 3, 2002.
GERON CORPORATION
By:
/s/ David L. Greenwood
David L. Greenwood
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENT, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Thomas B. Okarma and David L. Greenwood, and
each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each 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 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 order to effectuate the same as
fully, to all intents and purposes, as he might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or
any of them, 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 indicated as of July 3, 2002.
Signature
Title
/s/ Thomas B. Okarma
Thomas B. Okarma
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ David L. Greenwood
David L. Greenwood
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
/s/ Alexander E. Barkas
Alexander E. Barkas
Director
/s/ Edward V. Fritzky
Edward V. Fritzky
Director
Thomas D. Kiley
Director
/s/ Robert B. Stein
Robert B. Stein
Director
/s/ John P. Walker
John P. Walker
Director
/s/ Patrick J. Zenner
Patrick J. Zenner
Director
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EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT
4.1+
Form of Common Stock Certificate
4.2*
Rights Agreement dated as of July 20, 2001, between Geron
Corporation and the U.S. Stock Transfer Corporation, as Rights
Agent
5.1
Opinion of Latham & Watkins
23.1
Consent of Latham & Watkins (included in Exhibit 5.1)
23.2
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors
24.1
Powers of Attorney (included on signature page hereto)
(+)
Incorporated by reference to identically numbered exhibits filed with the
registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 which became effective on
July 30, 1996.
(*)
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Registrant's Current Report
on Form 8-K filed on July 23, 2001.
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