-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, BF2UhpXq0Q5JivRAsI9mSYJkq5ZxNPX9jX89Df1SNWWydRbW02BYYMe5FXYDXrsg YCd0L6KMTIrOUUlhDzj9Xw== 0000052466-96-000015.txt : 19960607 0000052466-96-000015.hdr.sgml : 19960607 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000052466-96-000015 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: S-3 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 4 FILED AS OF DATE: 19960606 SROS: NYSE FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: IONICS INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000052466 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SPECIAL INDUSTRY MACHINERY, NEC [3559] IRS NUMBER: 042068530 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-3 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-05345 FILM NUMBER: 96577557 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 65 GROVE ST CITY: WATERTOWN STATE: MA ZIP: 02172 BUSINESS PHONE: 6179262500 S-3 1 As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 6, 1996 Registration No. 33- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 ____________________________ FORM S-3 REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 ____________________________ IONICS, INCORPORATED (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Massachusetts 04-2068530 (State or other jurisdic- (I.R.S. Employer tion of incorporation Identification No.) or organization) _____________________________ 65 Grove Street Watertown, Massachusetts 02172 (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code of registrant's Principal Executive Offices) _____________________________ Stephen Korn Vice President and General Counsel Ionics, Incorporated 65 Grove Street Watertown, Massachusetts 02172 (617) 926-2500 (Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service) ______________________________ Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: Promptly after this registration statement becomes effective. _______________________________ Total of Sequentially Numbered Pages: 19 Exhibit Index on Sequentially Numbered Page: 16 /1 If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. [ ] If any of the securities being offered 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. [X] 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 statement number of the earlier statement for the same offering. [ ] 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. [ ] If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, please check the following box. [ ] CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE Title of each class Proposed Proposed of securities Amount maximum maximum Amount of to be to be price offering registration registered registered per share(1) price(1) fee Common Stock, 137,799 $50.38 $6,942,313.62 $2,393.90 par value $1.00 per share (1) The price of $50.38 per share, which was the average of the high and low prices of the Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on June 4, 1996, is set forth solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee, in accordance with Rule 457(c). 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 of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said section 8(a), may determine. -2- /2 IONICS, INCORPORATED CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET PURSUANT TO ITEM 501 OF REGULATION S-K Registration Statement Item Number and Caption Prospectus Caption 1. Forepart of the Registration Statement and Outside Front Cover Page of Prospectus.... Facing Page of Registration Statement; Cross Reference Sheet; Front Cover Page 2. Inside Front and Outside Back Cover Pages of Prospectus............................. Front Cover Page; Back Cover Page; Available Information 3. Summary Information, Risk Factors and Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges........ The Company; Not Applicable; Not Applicable 4. Use of Proceeds........................... Use of Proceeds 5. Determination of Offering Price........... Front Cover Page; Plan of Distribution 6. Dilution.................................. Not Applicable 7. Selling Security Holders.................. Selling Shareholders 8. Plan of Distribution...................... Front Cover Page; Plan of Distribution 9. Description of Securities to be Registered................................ Not Applicable 10. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel................................... Experts; Legal Matters 11. Material Changes.......................... Not Applicable 12. Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference................................. Information Incorporated by Reference 13. Disclosure of Commission Position on Indemnification for Securities Act Liabilities............................... Not Applicable -3- /3 Subject to Completion, Dated June 6, 1996 IONICS, INCORPORATED __________________________________________________________________________ 137,799 Shares Common Stock __________________________________________________________________________ This Prospectus relates to the offer and sale of up to an aggregate of 137,799 shares of Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share (the "Shares"), of Ionics, Incorporated ("Ionics" or the "Company"), by eight individual shareholders and by a trust (the "Selling Shareholders"). The Selling Shareholders may sell the Shares at market prices prevailing at the time of the sale or at prices otherwise negotiated. See "PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION." The Selling Shareholders and certain persons who purchase shares from them, including broker-dealers acting as principals who may resell the Shares, may be deemed "underwriters," as that term is defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). See "PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION" and "SELLING SHAREHOLDERS." None of the proceeds from the resale of the Shares will be received by the Company. The Company is responsible for the expenses incurred in connection with the registration of the Shares and will pay or assume brokerage commissions or other similar charges incurred in the sale of the Shares. The Company has agreed to indemnify the Selling Shareholders against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. The Company's Common Stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "ION." The last reported sale price for the Common Stock on June 5, 1996 was $49.25, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange. THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained in this Prospectus in connection with the offering made hereby, and if given or made, such information or representation must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Company. Neither the delivery of this Prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that information herein is correct as of any time subsequent to the date hereof. The date of this Prospectus is , 1996. -4- /4 AVAILABLE INFORMATION The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such reports, proxy statements and other information are available for inspection and copying at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at 450 5th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the following regional offices of the Commission: 75 Park Place, 14th Floor, New York, New York 10007 and 219 South Dearborn Street, Room 1204, Chicago, Illinois 60604. Copies of such material can also be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450 5th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 at prescribed rates. The Common Stock of the Company is listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange and such material may also be inspected and copied at the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York. The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (including all amendments thereto, the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act, with respect to the Common Stock offered hereby. This Prospectus does not contain all information set forth in the Registration Statement, certain parts of which are omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission. For further information regarding the Company and the Common Stock offered hereby, reference is hereby made to the Registration Statement and to the exhibits and schedules filed therewith. Statements contained in this Prospectus regarding the contents of any agreement or other document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement are not necessarily complete, and in each instance reference is made to the copy of such agreement filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, each such statement being qualified in all respects by such reference. The Registration Statement, including the exhibits and schedules thereto, may be inspected at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549 and copies of all or any part thereof may be obtained from such office upon payment of the prescribed fees. INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE The following documents filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act are incorporated in this Prospectus by reference as of their respective dates (File No. 1-7211): 1. The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995; 2. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 1996; 3. The section entitled "Description of Securities to be Registered" contained in the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on September 27, 1990. -5- /5 All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the termination of the offering made hereby, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus from the date of filing of 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 Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which is also 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 Prospectus. The Company will provide without charge to each person to whom a Prospectus is delivered, on the written or oral request of such person, a copy of any or all of the documents described above (other than exhibits to such documents). Requests for such copies should be directed to Stephen Korn, Clerk, Ionics, Incorporated, 65 Grove Street, Watertown, Massachusetts 02172 (telephone: 617-926-2500). THE COMPANY Ionics is a separations technology company involved worldwide in the manufacture and sale of membranes and related equipment for the purification, concentration, treatment and analysis of water and wastewater, in the supply of purified water, food and chemical products, and in the sale of bottled water and home water purifiers. The Company's business activities are divided into three segments: membranes and related equipment; water, food and chemical supply; and consumer products. Ionics was incorporated in Massachusetts in 1948. The Company's principal executive offices are located at 65 Grove Street, Watertown, Massachusetts 02172 and its telephone number is (617) 926-2500. USE OF PROCEEDS The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the shares by the Selling Shareholders. -6- /6 SELLING SHAREHOLDERS The following table sets forth certain information regarding beneficial ownership of the Shares as of May 15, 1996 and the number of Shares which may be offered for the account of the Selling Shareholders from time to time: Shares To Shares Shares Beneficially be Sold Beneficially Owned in the Owned After Selling Shareholder Prior to the Offering Offering the Offering Dean E. Bedford 2,758 2,482 276 P.O. Box 951 Road Town, Tortola, B.V.I. William C. Blansett 2,084 1,876 208 Simpson Bay Yacht Club #8 St. Maarten, N.A. David L. Grunau 67,820 28,533 39,287 30 Harbor Cove Way Mill Valley, CA 94941 Edward J. Hadeed 1 1 0 P.O. Box 665 St. Johns, Antigua, W.I. Walter W. Hayden 2,587 1,824 763 217 Conifer Terrace Danville, CA 94506-4566 Christian S. Miller 67,820 24,457 43,363 20440 Glen Brae Dr. Saratoga, CA 95070 Michael B. Nelson 67,820 24,457 43,363 7465 Rollingdell Dr. Cupertino, CA 95014 Mark J. Stone 5,192 4,169 1,023 120 East 36th St., #11E New York, NY 10016 William L. Putnam and Carol 299,420 50,000 249,420 B. Putnam, Trustees of the Putnam Family Trust dated 12/4/89, as amended 5562 Azure Way Long Beach, CA 90803 -7- /7 PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION The Shares offered hereby may be sold from time to time by the Selling Shareholders acting as principals for their own account. The Company is responsible for all expenses incurred in connection with the registration of the Shares. The Selling Shareholders will pay brokerage commissions or other charges and expenses incurred in the sale of the Shares. The Company has agreed to indemnify the Selling Shareholders against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. The distribution of the Shares by the Selling Shareholders is not currently subject to any underwriting agreement. The Shares covered by this Prospectus may be sold by the Selling Shareholders or by pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors in interest from time to time, and it is the intention of the Selling Shareholders to complete such sales within ninety (90) days of the date of this Prospectus. Such sales may be made at fixed prices that may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices, or at negotiated prices. Such sales may be effected in the over-the-counter market, on the New York Stock Exchange or on any other exchange on which the Shares may then be listed. The Shares may be sold by one or more of the following: (a) one or more block trades in which a broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell all or a portion of the Shares held by the Selling Shareholders as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; (b) purchases by a broker or dealer as principal and resale by such broker or dealer for its account pursuant to this Prospectus; and (c) ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker solicits purchasers. The Selling Shareholders will effect such transactions by selling Shares through broker-dealers, and such broker-dealers will receive compensation in negotiated amounts in the form of discounts, concessions, commissions or fees which will be paid by the Selling Shareholders. Such brokers or dealers and the Selling Shareholders may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act, in connection with such sales, and any commissions received by such broker-dealers may be deemed to be underwriting compensation. State Street Bank & Trust Company, c/o Boston Equiserve, 150 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021, is the transfer agent for the Company's Common Stock. LEGAL MATTERS Certain legal matters with respect to the issuance of the Shares are being passed upon for the Company by Stephen Korn, Vice President and General Counsel of the Company. Mr. Korn beneficially owns 43,266 shares of Common Stock, which number includes 41,800 shares subject to options, as to which Mr. Korn has the right to acquire beneficial ownership, and 243 shares (as of December 31, 1995) in the Company's Section 401(k) Plan for the account of Mr. Korn. -8- /8 EXPERTS The consolidated financial statements and schedule of Ionics, Incorporated and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1995 and 1994, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1995, incorporated by reference in this Prospectus have been so incorporated herein in reliance on the reports of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., independent accountants, given on the authority of that firm as experts in accounting and auditing. -9- /9 No dealer, salesperson or any other person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations not contained in this Prospectus and, if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Company. This Prospectus does not constitute an 137,799 Shares offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to sell, any securities other than the registered securities to which it IONICS, INCORPORATED relates, or an offer to or solicitation of any person in any jurisdiction where such an offer or solicitation would be unlawful. Neither the delivery of this Common Stock Prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall, under any circumstances, create an implication that the information contained herein is correct as of any time subsequent to the date hereof. _______________________________________ _____________________ TABLE OF CONTENTS Page PROSPECTUS _____________________ Available Information......... 2 Information Incorporated by Reference.................... 2 The Company................... 3 Use of Proceeds............... 3 Selling Shareholders.......... 4 Plan of Distribution.......... 4 Legal Matters................. 5 Experts....................... 6 __________, 1996 -10- /10 PART II INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution Expenses in connection with the distribution of the securities being registered hereby are estimated as follows: SEC Registration Fee............................. $ 2,394 Legal Fees and Expenses.......................... 2,500 Accounting Fees.................................. 6,500 Blue Sky Fees and Expenses....................... 0 Miscellaneous.................................... 500 Total......................................... $11,894 None of the above expenses will be paid by the Selling Shareholders. Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers The Company is permitted by Massachusetts law and required by its By- laws to indemnify any director or officer or former director or officer against all expenses and liabilities reasonably incurred by him in connection with any legal action in which such person is involved by reason of his position with the Company unless he shall have been finally adjudicated in any action, suit or proceeding not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interests of the Company. Such idemnification shall include payment by the Company of expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action or proceeding in advance of the final disposition of such action or defending a civil or criminal action or proceeding, upon the Company's receipt of the undertaking of the person indemnified to repay such payment if such person shall be adjudicated not entitled to such indemnification. Directors and officers are also insured up to an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 under a Directors' and Officers' Liability and Company Reimbursement Policy. The Company's Restated Articles of Organization include a provision limiting the personal liability of directors of the Company to its stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of their fiduciary duty to the extent permitted by the Massachusetts Business Corporation Law. Item 16. Exhibits 4.1 Rights Agreement, dated as of * December 22, 1987, as amended and restated as of August 15, 1989, between Registrant and The first National Bank of Boston (filed as Exhibit 1 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 30, 1989 and incorporated herein by reference). II-1 /11 4.2 Indenture, dated as of December 22, 1987, * between Registrant and The First National Bank of Boston, relating to Rights Agreement (filed as Exhibit 2 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 22, 1987 and incorporated herein by reference). 4.3 Form of Common Stock Certificate (filed as * Exhibit 4.10 to Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1990 and incorporated herein by reference). 5.0 Opinion re legality 5.1 Opinion of Stephen Korn, Esq. 23.0 Consents of experts and counsel 23.1 Consent of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. 23.2 Consent of Stephen Korn (contained in Exhibit 5.1) 24.0 Power of Attorney ________________________ * Incorporated 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 (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 a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement; II-2 /12 (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) and (a)(1)(ii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed 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. (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 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 Securities Act of 1993 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. II-3 /13 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 Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the Town of Watertown and Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the 6th day of June, 1996. IONICS, INCORPORATED By:/s/Arthur L. Goldstein Arthur L. Goldstein, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer II-4 /14 Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated. Signature Title Date /s/Arthur L. Goldstein Chairman of the Board, June 6, 1996 Arthur L. Goldstein President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) /s/Robert J. Halliday Vice President, June 6, 1996 Robert J. Halliday Finance and and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) /s/Douglas R. Brown Director June 6, 1996 Douglas R. Brown /s/William L. Brown Director June 6, 1996 William L. Brown /s/Arnaud de Vitry d'Avaucourt Director June 6, 1996 Arnaud de Vitry d'Avaucourt /s/Samuel A. Goldblith Director June 6, 1996 Samuel A. Goldblith /s/Kachig Kachadurian Director June 6, 1996 Kachig Kachadurian /s/William E. Katz Director June 6, 1996 William E. Katz /s/Robert B. Luick Director June 6, 1996 Robert B. Luick /s/John J. Shields Director June 6, 1996 John J. Shields /s/Carl S. Sloane Director June 6, 1996 Carl S. Sloane /s/Mark S. Wrighton Director June 6, 1996 Mark S. Wrighton /s/Allen S. Wyett Director June 6, 1996 Allen S. Wyett *By: Stephen Korn Attorney-in-fact II-5 /15 FORM S-3 EXHIBIT INDEX Sequential Exhibit No. Description Page No. 4.1 Rights Agreement, dated as of * December 22, 1987, as amended and restated as of August 15, 1989, between Registrant and The First National Bank of Boston (filed as Exhibit 1 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 30, 1989 and incorporated herein by reference). 4.2 Indenture, dated as of December 22, 1987, * between Registrant and The First National Bank of Boston, relating to Rights Agreement (filed as Exhibit 2 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 22, 1987 and incorporated herein by reference). 4.3 Form of Common Stock Certificate (filed as * Exhibit 4.10 to Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1990 and incorporated herein by reference). 5.0 Opinion re legality 5.1 Opinion of Stephen Korn, Esq. 17 23.0 Consents of experts and counsel 23.1 Consent of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. 18 23.2 Consent of Stephen Korn (contained in Exhibit 5.1). 24.0 Power of Attorney 19 * Incorporated by reference. /16 EX-5 2 [LOGO ]IONICS Address Mail To: ____________________ P.O. Box 9131 IONICS, INCORPORATED Watertown, Massachusetts 02272-9131 65 Grove Street Watertown, Massachusetts 02172-2882 Telephone: (617) 926-2500 Fax: (617) 926-4304 Exhibit 5.1 June 6, 1996 Ionics, Incorporated 65 Grove Street Watertown, MA 02172 Re: Form S-3 Registration Statement Ladies and Gentlemen: As General Counsel to Ionics, Incorporated, a Massachusetts corporation (the "Company"), I have represented the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of the Company's Form S-3 Registration Statement (the "Registration Statement"), covering the offer and sale to the public by certain selling shareholders of up to 137,799 shares of the Company's Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Shares"). I have reviewed the corporate proceedings taken by the Company with respect to the authorization of the issuance of the Shares. I have also examined and relied upon originals or copies, certified or otherwise authenticated to my satisfaction, of all corporate records, documents, agreements or other instruments of the Company and have made all investigations of law and have discussed with the Company's representatives all questions of fact that I have deemed necessary or appropriate. Based upon and subject to the foregoing, I am of the opinion that the Shares are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to my name in the Prospectus contained in the Registration Statement under the caption "Legal Matters." Very truly yours, /s/Stephen Korn Stephen Korn General Counsel /17 EX-23 3 EXHIBIT 23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS We consent to the the incorporation by reference in this registration statement on Form S-3 of our reports dated February 20, 1996 on our audits of the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule of Ionics, Incorporated as of December 31, 1995 and 1994 and for the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993. We also consent to the reference to our Firm under the caption "Experts" in the prospectus portion of this registration statement. /s/COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P. Boston, Massachusetts June 4, 1996 /18 EX-24 4 EXHIBIT 24 POWER OF ATTORNEY The undersigned Officers and Directors of Ionics, Incorporated hereby severally constitute Arthur L. Goldstein, Stephen Korn and each of them to sign for and in their names in the capacities indicated below, the Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated June 6, 1996, herewith filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and any and all amendments thereto, for the purpose of registering shares of Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of Ionics, Incorporated, hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may be signed by our said attorneys to said Registration Statement and any and all amendments to said Registration Statement. Witness our hands and common seal on the dates set forth below. Signatures Title Date /s/Arthur L. Goldstein Chairman, President, June 6, 1996 Arthur L. Goldstein Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and Director /s/Douglas R. Brown Director June 6, 1996 Douglas R. Brown /s/William L. Brown Director June 6, 1996 William L. Brown /s/Arnaud de Vitry d'Avaucourt Director June 6, 1996 Arnaud de Vitry d'Avaucourt /s/Samuel A. Goldblith Director June 6, 1996 Samuel A. Goldblith /s/K. Kachadurian Director June 6, 1996 K. Kachadurian /s/William E. Katz Director June 6, 1996 William E. Katz /s/Robert B. Luick Director June 6, 1996 Robert B. Luick /s/John J. Shields Director June 6, 1996 John J. Shields /s/Carl S. Sloane Director June 6, 1996 Carl S. Sloane /s/Mark S. Wrighton Director June 6, 1996 Mark S. Wrighton /s/Allen S. Wyett Director June 6, 1996 Allen S. Wyett /19 -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----